March 2008 Archives

Speedo, TYR, and Body Glove swimwear is 20% off at Sports Authority now until Saturday, April 5, 2008. The store I went to had many suits other than the semi-boring ones pieces meant for the lap pool. Not that I have any hard feelings against those suits (I own one myself). Each has their place.

Caveats: excludes rashguards and some clearance suits. Find a Sports Authority near you.

Seems like everybody I know is making babies. My best bud from eighth grade and high school is knocked up, in two weeks I've got a baby shower for another friend, and just last night I got an e-mail from a third friend announcing the birth of her second child. Even my masseuse is preggers!

I'm not sure if all this activity is making my "clock" tick louder or softer, but it will have me heading to Carter's to buy miniature clothes, one of the most appealing aspects of being a mother (at least, that's the way it looks from this side of the fence). Get $10 off your purchase of $50 or more at Carter's stores with this coupon until Wednesday, April 2, 2008.

Caveats: one coupon per customer per day, not good on gift cards, past purchases, or online. Find a Carter's near you.

Get a free item up to $11 at Bath and Body Works in stores only with any purchase when you have this coupon. Expires April 12, 2008. The fine print makes it sounds like you get to choose the freebie from items they have selected. Not valid online.

Caveats: while supplies last, selection may vary by store, no substitutions. Find a store near you.

Geri Cook, one of LA's original bargain hunters, has died. She was 83. Cook is the mom of Suzanne O'Connor, who runs BargainsLA, a great source for local sales across the region. Cook wrote the "Bargains" column for the LA Times and also worked for the Daily News for four years. She had a radio programs on KGIL-AM and regularly appeared on KCBS evening news. Read the full obit in the LA Times here.

Get a free Swingline stapler worth about $20 when you take a very brief survey for Swingline. Just tell them how important it is to have 28 different tools/office items in your desk. The free stapler retails for $19.59 at Office Depot. Unclear how many freebies they have to give out.

Caveats: one entry per person and per household, must live in the contiguous United States. Allow up to 6 weeks for delivery. Note, staplers cannot be shipped to a PO Box.

Get a $5 gift card to Starbucks when you spend $75 in the store. There are some caveats but unfortunately the Web site does not explain them or say how long the deal lasts. Brilliant! I believe coffee beans and espresso machines count towards the $75. Find a store near you.

To celebrate their 60th anniversary, Marie Callender's is selling three types of pie for $7 plus the tin when you buy an entree at their restaurant. Choose from chocolate cream, apple, or lemon meringue. A close call, but I would go for apple if there were ice cream. Otherwise, chocolate. Here are other pie options not included in the anniversary special.

Find a Marie Callender's near you.

Get 10% to 33% off at MonsterHair.com during their spring sale - but it ends today. Brands like MOP, Fudge, Brocato, Osis, Bonacure, Nioxin and Pureology are on sale. Code mhm06 is supposed to knock a few dollars more off your order but it didn't work for me. Browse their sale specials. Products that are on sale have prices in red.

A 3.5 oz jar of Fudge hair shaper is $15.16 (orig $20). Thanks, Melissa!

Subway totally ripped off my Lincoln Lunch concept - a $5 meal named after the president who graces the five dollar bill - but in a good way. They are selling foot long subs for $5 and even have a pic of Abe himself on their Web site. Not sure what to do with so much sandwich? Share with a friend, save it for later, or offer the other half to a homeless person.

The deal lasts until mid-April and includes all but their "premium" and "double stacked" sandwiches, an employee told me. Find a Subway near you.

Staples has an offer to buy your old printer for $50 when you buy a new HP printer from them by May 3, 2008. Your new printer must cost at least $159. Not sure if buying two HP machines counts.

Their current ad for Sunday, March 30 through Saturday, April 5 has three HP printers on sale, from $100 to $200 (reg $180 to $300). Find a Staples near you.

UPDATE: This deal has already expired.

PREVIOUSLY: Get a free Schick Quattro Titanium Razor, which retails for about $10, when you enter your name, address, age, gender and email address on this site. Unclear when the deal expires.

Caveats: one razor per person, household, or address, available only while supplies last, must be 16 years of age or older to receive a free sample.

One of my favorite blogs is Overheard in New York, which is just what is sounds like. People sharing the bizarre and ridiculous things they overhear on the subway, walking down Fifth Avenue, and other places they cram themselves into as part of everyday life in the ci-tay. B.O. is the least of their problems, let me tell you. Even if you have never been to the Big Apple you will still chuckle.

This tidbit was overheard at Jungle World in the Bronx Zoo.

Ghetto girl: Hey, look! What's that? I think it's an egg!
Friend: What the hell?! What's wrong with you? Monkeys don't lay eggs!
Ghetto girl: ... Well, how was I supposed to know that?!

Okay, so some people are just stupid. Others are motivated by deadline, according to this exchange overheard in Grand Central Station.

Bible-thumping lady: Get your Bible! We only have approximately five years left!
Passerby: Five years! Fuck! I gotta get movin'!

For more check out Overheard in New York. See also Overheard at the beach and Overheard at the office. Contribute your own bits for the benefit of those everywhere like to laugh. Note, some posts are quite raunchy.

Looking for linens? One place to check out is the Designer Linens Outlet. They sell linens for the bedroom, bathroom, and window dressings. A white sheet set made out of 1000-thread count cotton is $120 (orig $400). Linen prices can really vary, but I did a quick check at Macy's, which only sells sheets up to 800-thread count. Their Hotel brand 800-thread count sheets are $117 just for the flat sheet and another $117 for the fitted sheet.

The Outlet has a matching comforter, bed skirt and sham set in fall hues is $95 (orig $190) but comes in king size only. Macy's bed sets range from $80 to $230.

At the Outlet a six piece silk blend Shangri La towel set is $60 (orig $120). Macy's does not sell the Shangri La brand of towels but you can browse their selection here for your own price comparison.

A new Best Buy is opening Friday in Northridge and the first 50 customers will receive $20 gift cards. Store opens at 10 a.m. No idea how early folks will start lining up. Visit them at 19350 Nordhoff Way just west of Tampa in NorthridgeX.

Barnes & Noble is marking down all their CDs - new releases, box sets, etc - by 40% now until Sunday, March 30. In stores only. Use this printable coupon to get the discount. You do not need to be a member and the discount applies to as many CDs as you want to buy.

Caveats: not good at college bookstores or online.

Get 20% off sale and regular priced merchandise at J. Crew when you buy at least $175. Expires tomorrow, March 28, 2008 so don't delay. Use coupon code SHHH at checkout. A cliffrose print blousy dress is $158 and perfect for a brunch, wedding, or day of deep thinking at a museum. I also like these black, white and green print espadrilles, which are unfortunately $118. For the lowest prices check out their final sale items.

Instead of dishing out more money on advertising, Warehouse Shoe Sale is giving away 1,000 $35 gas cards and 300 monthly bus passes (normally $62) every month until December. The promo campaign is sure to attract a lot of attention. They hope the daring move will improve consumer confidence, and maybe convince shoppers they need more shoes. I know I do!

You do not need to buy anything to sign up for the freebies. Just leave your name and phone number. They will randomly select the winners and call to notify them. (Don't worry, you're still a winner even if they don't call). You gotta go back to a WSS store to pick up your winnings. The gas cards are for specific stations.

WSS also sells clothes and music. They have stores in Canoga Park, Resdea, Sherman Oaks, Van Nuys, Sun Valley, San Fernando, Oxnard and across Southern California. Find a WSS near you.

Members get 30% off a single full priced item at DSW today through Sunday, March 30, 2008 with this printable coupon. Non-members get 20% off. Joining is free. Good in stores only.

Caveats: one per customer, can be combined with up to two rewards certificates, not good on gift cards. Find a DSW near you.

Have you heard of Buck-a-Roo$? Besides from having a really silly name, the discount home goods/grocery store in Van Nuys has some really good deals. Not everything is a bargain though, so shop with a discriminating eye.

Here are some deals I found there. Three Oral Fresh Plus toothbrushes for $1 (now I'm wondering why I only bought three!), two pint glasses for $1, Wet 'n Wild nail polish for $1, Herbal Essences 23.7 fl oz for $5, maternity jean shorts with an elastic band for $5, two 24-oz packs of Nestle chocolate chips for $5, and 5lb of long grain white rice for $2.

Some suspect prices I found there. Six packs of Ramen for $1 (a really good sale is at least 10/$1), 16 oz of pasta for $1 (you can get the same amount for $.79 at Trader Joe's) and camping chairs for $15 (they go on sale for $10 or less).

About 2/3 of the store is home goods and the rest is grocery. No fresh food was being sold when I dropped by. Here is a coupon for 15% off any purchase, good through April 15, 2008. Buck-a-Roo$ has such low prices because it buys overstocked items, orders that were canceled and items that have old packaging (not expired, just old). That means the stock is inconsistent - a deal you see one day may not be there the next day. Read more about the company here.

The Van Nuys store is new and clean, the aisles are wide and the place is well lit. Parking in back and in front. Note, they do not accept personal checks. Visit them at 17641 Vanowen St. in Van Nuys. (818) 758-6500. Open 8 to 9 everyday. Other locations in Bellflower and Pico Rivera.

Get 20% off your lunch bill at Charlie G's Prime Steak House in Tarzana for the rest of the month. The restaurant has not served lunch for many years and is offering the promotion to attract a lunchtime crowd. The dinner menu online is outdated, unfortunately, and "totally different" than their lunch offerings, an employee said. But think traditional steak house. Lunch entrees range from $8 to 24 before the discount.

Visit them at 18663 Ventura Blvd. #200 in Tarzana. (818) 344-1191.

Page A5 of today's Daily News and page A 11 of the LA Times has a good coupon for sale and clearance items at Macy's. Get 10% to 15% off with any form of payment or 15% to 20% off with your Macy's card. Coupon is good today through Monday, March 31, 2008.

Items eligible for the higher discount: sale and clearance apparel, handbags, accessories, fine, bridge and fashion jewelry. Items eligible for the lower discount: women's sleepwear and lingerie, shoes, men's pants and tailored clothing, electrics and electronics.

Caveats: many brands are excluded along with cosmetics and perfume, maternity and gift cards so read the fine print. Find a Macy's near you.

Geeks.com is having a three-day blowout sale with markdowns up to 80%. A Philips portable DVD player is $68 (orig $74.50). A soft neoprene laptop case is $5 (orig $7). A wireless Bluetooth speaker lets you listen to your iPod or MP3 player anywhere, above, is $30 (orig $40). For each item the site notes how many are left. Browse all the Geek sale items.

Every Wednesday Best Buy has an online sale of a few dozen items, from laptop cases to hardware and sometimes computers. Today's sale includes a wireless Internet radio for $150 (orig $200), a wireless Linksys router for $100 (orig $130), and seven other deals. Offers expire every Wednesday at 11:59 pm CT.

Get 15% off on certain Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air flights when you book by March 30, 2008. Fly between April 1 and May 31, 2008 and book online at alaskaair.com. Use discount code EC02608. Flights eligible for the discount from nearby airports include LAX to Cancun and Long Beach to Anchorage. Also SF to PDX, San Jose to Boise and OAK to Kelowna, BC (234 miles northwest of Vancouver, so, in the middle of nowhere).

Caveats: Blackout dates include April 4-6 and 11-13; May 22-23 and 26-27, 2008. The discount code may not apply to your home airport.

Jeans are one thing you absolutely 100% have to try on before you buy unless you have free shipping and free returns or a sugar daddy. If you play Russian roulette with your hard earned moolah, at least consult SearchByInseam.com first.

The Web site makes buying jeans, pants, cords, dress pants, leggings, shorts and maternity gear online less of a gamble by taking into account your inseam length, favorite brands and price range. Brands and price range are easy to come up with. For the inseam, measure your favorite pair of jeans. Here's how to measure the inseam.

I put in my stats and it spit out 15 pairs, none of which I'll buy right now (I'm currently on a clothing spending moratorium as a trade off for getting a bimonthly massage so that I don't implode into a tight ball of muscle from my TNT training. If you met Natasha, the Russian sports masseuse I go to, you would realize that I'm giving up new clothes for an hour of torture. Sports massage is not fun.). But maybe the site will help you find the pair that fits and flatters.

In case you don't get these things all the time in the mail, here is a coupon for 20% off at Linens 'n Things. Good on any single item with some exceptions. Expires December 31, 2008. Both LNT and Bed, Bath & Beyond accept each others coupon and generally accept coupons even after they expire. This one can be used more than once so come back to print another one out when you need it.

Cavests: valid in stores only, cannot be combined with other discounts. A number of labels are excluded, read the fine print for details. Find an LNT near you.

Get the Wonderbra Deep Plunge Push-Up Bra, above, for $10 (orig $29) from OneHanesPlace.com. The bra has a clear tab in the middle in case your neckline is VERY low and three spaghetti straps on either shoulder. Sizes from 34A to 38C. Comes in white, beige or black. Get with free shipping with coupon code 608910.

The Wonderbra Sultry Stripes Mesh Underwire Bra with lace trim is also $10. Comes in white, black or pink.

A huuuuuuge kids sale with thousand of items including clothes, toys, gear, is going on this weekend. The LA Kids Consignment sale is in a random warehouse in Van Nuys but I've been there before and it's super organized and only gently used items are sold.

The sale is run by Kristin Nelson, a mom was who tired of paying full price and finding grungy items at garage sales. Now Nelson enlists Moms who wants to make a buck off their kids' gear by re-selling it at the sale. Each person sets the price for their stuff (so it can vary), then Nelson organizes it and runs the sale. It's too late to be a consigner this year, but you can get on the list to be a consigner at the next sale in about six months.

Hours are Friday and Saturday 9 to 5, Sunday 9 to 2 and most items are 50% off. Cash only. Visit them at Seville Hall at 7963 Van Nuys Blvd. in Van Nuys.

Hands down, the best place to get camping gear, outdoorsy clothes, and backpacks is the REI used gear sale, which is this Saturday. At their last sale I snagged a three-season sleeping bag for $60 that normally runs about $115 to $150.

The gear is marked down by 50% to 90% because it has been returned under REI generous return policy and cannot be resold under normal circumstances. My sleeping bag looked brand spankin' new, but a Keen bag I picked up was a little dusty and had a small tear in one of the pockets.

The catch is the sale is only open to members. Back when I joined it was $10, now the one time fee is $20. Join here. Expect a line to start forming outside the Northridge store a few hours before doors open at 10 am. (This ain't no Playstation sale but crunchy folks like a deal, too.)

Line up at 18605 Devonshire St. in Northridge. (818) 831-5555. Call your local REI to see if the sale is happening near you. Dates and times vary by store. I know the Santa Monica REI sale starts at 7am Saturday.

Get a $2 movie rental from Blockbuster when you give them your email. Click on this link, then click on "The Game" on the lower left. You don't actually have to play the game to get the coupon, which they email to you after you enter your email address. Coupon expires April 8, 2008.

Caveats: excluding games, high definition disks, defensive driving course and equipment. One per account, one time use only. You need Flash Player to print the coupon.

Find a store near you.

I think spas and salons must be having a hard time because I'm hearing about many promotions at these types of businesses. The latest comes from Serene Haven in Sherman Oaks. For the rest of the month they are offering 15% off everything from facials to nail services, hair extensions and product purchases. Waxing services are 30% off Tuesday through Thursday and three spa packages are 20% off. With these kinds of discounts I'm thinking there is room for negotiation if what you want is a little different than what they are offering, especially if you are booking multiple treatments or a group outing.

Package one includes a customized facial, mega detox manicure and pedicure, and a gift certificate for a foot and hand scrub, for $121 (orig $152). Package two includes a vitamin c facial treatment, nourishing treatment manicure and pedicure, and a gift certificate for a paraffin hands and feet treatment, for $138 (orig $173). Package three includes an anti-aging facial treatment, a traditional ginger combo manicure and pedicure, and a gift certificate for an ear coning treatment, for $152 (orig $190).

Visit them at 13511 Ventura Blvd. in Sherman Oaks. (818) 986-3001. Thanks, Jen!

Get 30% off all the faux retro greetings cards from Paper Relics for an unknown amount of time. Buy online and use code CANDY at checkout. I may have to get a set for my sisters, who send me the most beautiful cards. I like this whimsical Let It Snow card, which is $4 for one, $12 for 4, or $20 for 8. That's before the discount.

A card that has a little fairy standing on a tree limb with an egg in her hands brings home the message "you're a good egg." Perfect for a birthday, graduation, or other congratulatory occassions, with similar pricing. A proper lady decorates a fun "eat cake" card, above.

There is a similar deal going on at Ann Taylor, but if you prefer lower-priced clothes for a slightly younger set, check out this coupon for Ann Taylor Loft. Get $25 off a $50 purchase with code 80200012. Might also include free shipping. Good on sale and regular priced items. With this discount it's a great time to stock up on work clothes if you have been holding off.

BEFORE the discount, a patch pocket trench coat in periwinkle, above, is $119. Free shipping on orders over $100. Browse their clothes, petites, maternity clothes, shoes and accessories, and sale items.

Get $50 off your tab of $100 or more at Ann Taylor online until April 5, 2008. Good on sale, clearance or regular priced merchandise. I tried it on one item that was already 50% off and it worked! Use coupon code 83500001 when checking out. Standard shipping is $6 flat.

BEFORE the discount a black and white silk crinkle top, above, is $39 (orig $78) and a pair of matching black jeans are $78 (orig $88). Browse Ann Taylor's clothes, petites, shoes, sale, and accessories.

Get two Nike Sport MP3 carrying cases for $6 including shipping today only from Woot.com. Everyday the site changes the deal and often it sells out hours before the changing of the product at midnight.

The case is specially designed for the Nike+ iPod Sport Kit and iPod Nano but fits most brand mp3 players, according to Woot. It has a padded divider that holds your iPod Nano, sensor, and receiver, and a spool for tangle-prone headphones. Also has a clear plastic card sleeve to hold your gym card or ID, a storage pocket and a small zipper pocket. Measures 4 1/8" x 5.5" x 2.75". Did I mention $6 gets you two of them?

...and figure out if they are a bargain! A story from Shop Smart magazine says look for these details to determine if clothing is well made or if manufacturers skimped.

Shirts - Hems should be smooth and free of wrinkles, buttons should be sewn into an extra layer of fabric (look for subtle stitch lines on either side of the buttons), and there should be two layers of fabric across the shoulders. Avoid a shirt with a collar that does not fold down properly - it wasn't been cut right.

Pants - look for neat, tightly stitched seams with no loose strings, invisible hems at the foot (unlike jeans or casual pants), and avoid pairs with sticky or hard to reach zippers.

Jackets - the arm should be made out of two pieces and not pucker along the shoulder. A jackets made of two panels of cloth on each front will fit better than those with darts or seams. High end jackets should have piped lining. Jackets made of wool with a little spandex will wear well and keep their shape best.

The Machinist blogger has figured out a way to access all the Wall Street Journal stories online for free. Normally subscribing costs $80 a year. The deal is that the WSJ wants to get traffic from search engines like Google and sites like Digg that collect popular stories, so the financial newspaper makes most or all of its stories free if you access them through these sites.

Normally, when you click on a link to a WSJ story from an ordinary Web site you get a truncated version of the story and have to log on and pay to finish reading it. "But if you click on a link to that same article in Google News, you'll be sent to the full story for free. This is true, also, of WSJ links on Digg, and probably a few other big referral sites, too," the blog post says.

If some stories are still off limits you can install a referer spoofer, which is totally legal, the Machinist blog claims. For directions click here and scroll down to where it says "The slightly harder way (but you do get all the Journal's stories):"

Kids aged 3 to 12 eat free every Tuesday night at Ruby's Diner in Woodland Hills with every adult meal ordered. So basically 1 adult meal = 1 free kids meal, 2 adult meals = 2 free kids meals. To get the deal eat between 4 and 9 pm. Caveats: free kids meals must be ordered from the kid's menu.

Not sure if the freebie is happening at all Ruby's Diners. Find a Ruby's near you. Visit them at 6100 Topanga Canyon in Woodland Hills. (818) 340-7829.

All "fine" jewelry at Fashion Bug is half off during their spring sale now until April 5, 2008. Returns are accepted by mail as long as the item has not been worn and still has the tags on it.

A sterling silver cross with .4 ct cubic zirconia stone, above, is $25 (orig $50). A pair of gold-plated double hoop earrings are $22.50 (orig $45). Browse all the sale jewelry.

Regular priced casual knit tops in the plus and misses sections are 25% off until April 29. Regular priced plus, misses, juniors and girls shorts and capris are 30% off until April 29.

Buy one game and get one free at eToys through tomorrow. Check out their selection of games eligible for the discount here. To get the discount put both games into your cart and the lower priced game will be free. Note, their prices are slightly higher than what you can pay on Amazon, so only buy the games if you really want BOTH. Otherwise just buy one game for a cheaper price elsewhere.

I compared the prices of three games on the discount page and found Scene It DVD movie trivia was $15 more than on Amazon, Superman Returns was $6.50 more than Amazon, and Deal or No Deal Living Room game was the same price.

Caveats: available while supplies last.

Get 40% off your tab at Coldwater Creek with no minimum purchase, according to Retailmenot. Good online. I heard the code lasts until April 8, 2008, but that could change. When checking out use code WXP1482. The discount shows up after you enter your address, in one of the final pages.

Before the discount a twirling white skirt with brown paisley pattern at the hem, above, is $90. Matching brown top is $80.

Get $20 off a dinner entree at McCormick & Schmick's when you make a reservation online and dine in before April 30, 2008. To get the deal make a reservation here, print the confirmation page or write the confirmation number on a coupon you can print on this page.

Locations in Burbank, Pasadena, LA, El Segundo, Beverly Hills and Irvine. Find a M&S's near you.

Caveats: alcohol and gratuity not included. Limited one per table.

Major chain stores like Home Depot, Circuit City and Best Buy are quietly adopting policies that let their sales force haggle with customers, a recent story in the New York Times says. Basically the down economy is giving folks like you and me wiggle room because retailers really want to make the sale.

The folks in the NYT story successfully talked down prices by arming themselves with information and playing hard to get. I'm terrified of haggling, but I have a feeling once I do it a few times it will come easy. Here's how to get started:

+ Know the price of the item you want on the Internet and at the store's competitor.
+Tell the salesperson you saw a similar item for such-and-such price selling at X.
+Consider bringing a friend to play good cop/bad cop. One person wants to buy the item, the other doesn't and threatens to leave.
+Tell the salesperson the item looks worn or damaged, if appropriate.

Making stuff up is not good. But if another retailer is selling it for less, that's information that will empower you. Good luck and let me know your haggling stories!

On April 20 get 50% off on haircuts and brow waxing at Elements Aveda in the Calabasas Commons. The stylists and estheticians are working for free that day and all proceeds will benefit the Surfriders Foundation, which helps keep our oceans and waterways clean. Make an appointment soon before they are booked up and mention the benefit to get the discount.

Cuts normally cost $65, not sure yet about the brow waxing. Note, the haircuts are 30 minute appointments and assistants will help with the blow drying. Visit them at 4732 Commons Way in Calabasas. (818) 224-3442.

The Chef's Corner has marked its collection of Villeroy & Boch dishes, platters, and serving ware down by 50% in honor of the basketball fever that has consumed many otherwise sane people. A 16-piece Twist Alea Limone set with a dinner plate, salad plate, bowl and mug, above, is $129 (retails $260). A French Garden Fleurence 12.5-inch serving platter is $75 (retails $150). Browse all the V&B on sale. Note, if you want quicker delivery make sure the item is in stock. Otherwise it takes about three to four weeks. Sale ends March 29, 2008.

Get up to 30% off at Eddie Bauer now until April 8, 2008. An adventure clip watch is $30 (orig $50). Men's pants are buy one get a second 50% off, same with many men's dress shirts. Duffel bags are $30 to $99 (orig $40 to $128).

A long sleeve lightweight women's top is $40 (orig $60). A breezy knee-length skirt with a brick red and white pattern is $40 (orig $68). Women's plus sizes are also on sale.

Shop the men's sale or the women's sale.

The March 24 issue of Newsweek suggests a few credit cards for small business owners and some of them sound like good deals, depending on your needs. The American Express Plum Card gives you two months to pay your balance in full without fees as long as you pay 10% of the total due on time.

A business card from Advanta offers no interest on balance transfers for 15 months and an 8% fixed APR thereafter. The Capital One Business Platinum With No Hassle Cash card gives you 1% back on all purchases with no limits. The next year you get a quarter of the previous years' rebate.

Get 5% back on office supplies with the Discover Business Cash Back card. It also gives 2% back on gas and 1% on everything else. Find a card appropriate for you at creditcard.com.

The kit is $4 (orig $18) at Graveyard Mall and shipping is $7. Not a bad deal overall. It includes 400 letters in two fonts, four stampers to hold your message, tweezers to arrange the letters, an ink pad and a tray to hold it all. Don't wait long if you are interested because prices fluctuate on this site.

Click here to see their other deals of the day, including a scale/body fat monitor for $23, a wooden multi-game set for $5 and a mushroom that plays soft music and displays lights to soothe sleepy tots, for $10.

Get 20% off already reduced items at J.Crew online now until Saturday, March 22, 2008. Note, the discount is for final sale items so nothing is returnable or exchangeable. A women's flame-colored linen/cotton jacket, above, is $48 (orig $128). Boxer shorts for little boys are $5 to $8. A pair of metallic ballet flats are $80 (orig $145) but come in size 5 only. Sale categories listed by size so you can tell fairly quickly if there's anything for you. Thanks, Sarah!

Here are four merlots that were rated as "great bargains" by Shop Smart magazine. They range from $5 to just under $11. I added links to purchase each bottle.

Columbia Crest Grand Estates 2004, Columbia Valley, Washington, $10.79 on wine.com

Yellow Tail 2006, Australia, $7 at Wine County North Plainfield (I've had this and it works in a pinch.)

Bogle Vineyards 2005, California $7 at klwines.com (I had this and it was tasty.)

Walnut Crest 2005, Rapel Valley, Chile $5 at greatcorks.com

My favorite bottle of cheap, I mean affordable wine, is Ravenswood Vinter's Blend 2005 Zinfandel for $9 at Malloy's Finest. Albertsons stocks it.

The article also gives the thumbs up to two boxed wines, which are the size of four bottles.

Delicato Bota Box merlot 2005 is $20 at Wine Merchant Raleigh and Black Box 2004 is $22 at Bevmo.

Today through Saturday, March 22 get up to 40% off already reduced items at Macy's. Easter dresses for girls are 40% off, dresses and sportswear for women are 25% off, and men's sportswear from Alfani, Izod, Cubavera, and Club Room are 30% to 40% off. Fine jewelry is an extra 10% off. Browse all the sale categories.

Top off an extra 10% to 15% if you pay with your Macy's charge card. Note, store is closed Sunday. Find a Macy's near you.

Find out with this quick AOL calculator, which asks for seven things: your current age, the age at which you want to be a millionaire, your current investments, monthly savings, interest rate, federal tax rate and state tax rate.

You can also calculate how long it will take to pay off a debt and how much it costs to raise a child.

The latest issue of Shop Smart magazine, a fun, informative glossy put out by the folks at Consumer Reports, puts expiration dates on everything from lipstick to sunscreen. Test your know-how, then run to the bathroom and toss your festering lip gloss like I did.

How long should you keep the following products? Answers are either A, between two weeks and four months, B, six months to a year or C, one year plus.

1. Blush
2. Eyeliner
3. Foundation
4. Lipstick
5. Makeup brushes
6. Makeup sponges
7. Mascara
8. Moisturizer
9. Self-tanner
10. Sunscreen
11. Tweezers and eyelash curlers

For the answers click below.

For a limited time, Banana Republic is having a 40% off spring sale on select clothes, shoes and handbags online and in stores. A sleeveless silk/spandex top perfect for the office is $40 (orig $68). A really cute top with a cowl neck and slightly embellished short sleeves, above, is $20 (orig $38). A rayon/spandex striped dress is $50 (orig $79). Lots more dresses on sale!

A simple black flat with a small chain across the toe is $65 (orig $88). Two-inch Hoop earrings in gold or silver are $13 (orig $18). Browse the sale in women's, petites, men's , shoes and handbags and women's tall sizes.

Free shipping on tabs of $125 or more until March 23, 2008 with coupon code BRSHIPSALE.

Time to stock up on beauty products. Get $3.50 off a $10 purchase at the online beauty store Ulta.com plus three free samples. Read all their special offers, including a free 14-piece cosmetics gift set with any $17.50 purchase of Ulta cosmetics or formativ skincare. (Excludes Ulta mineral kits and Ulta professional.) Browse their sections for makeup, skincare, and haircare.

Coupon expires Saturday, March 22, 2008. Use code 93454 online or click here to print the coupon. Free shipping on tabs of $50 or more.

Caveats: excludes all fragrance brands and products, salon services, colonial candlesa and a number of brands of excluded. Click here to see the whole list.

Get $5 off a $25 "baby purchase" with some exclusions now through Saturday, March 22 at Babies R Us. Good online or in stores. Online use code 921086 or in stores print this coupon.

Caveats: not good on diapers, formula, video game hardware, gift cards, phone orders, special orders, buyer protection plans, Kiddie Kandids, and Motherhood Maternity.

Find a Babies R Us near you.

UPDATE: I stopped by Thur night and about a third of the store still had items on the shelves. But it was barren, like buying groceries in a third world country. Checking out also took 20 minutes. I bought about $75 worth of cereal, power bars, chips, shampoo, chocolate chips, and random other items that will stay for awhile. With my Vons card and the 50% off discount I saved over $100. Cha-ching!

PREVIOUSLY: The Vons grocery store on Ventura Blvd. between Canoga and Topanga Canyon in Woodland Hills is closing and everything is 50% off (except dairy and tobacco products, I'm told). Haven't gotten a chance to check it out but I hear people are leaving with cart loads of stuff. Last day in business is Saturday.

Visit them at 21821 Ventura Blvd., in the same plaza as Jerry's Deli and Ralphs.

Get an extra 15% off of regular, sale and clearance items at Kohl's Thursday March 20 to Saturday March 22, 2008. Good in stores only. Must have this printable coupon to get the discount. Right now kitchen electrics are 15% to 50% off. The Simply Vera by Vera Wang line has many fashionable and affordable pieces.

Caveats: cannot be used on Kohl's Cares for Kids items, other charitable items, or used with other percent off coupons. Find a Kohl's near you.

Get $10 off a purchase of $65 or more at Nine West online or in stores when you use your Visa. Good to June 30, 2008. Online use code VISA08 or in stores print out this page. Their March sale items include a black patent leather peep toe pump, above, that would really spice up a suit, for $50 (orig $89). A deep pink suede moccasin is $50 (orig $65) and also comes in black, brown, pea green and silver. A mini leather wristlet purse is $15 (orig $45) and perfect for a night on the town. Browse all the sale shoes, handbags, and apparel.

Caveats: not good at department stores or Nine West Outlets, cannot be combined with other discounts, can only be used once. Find a Nine West near you.

Looking for a new camera, flatscreen TV, iPod or other electronic gadget but have no idea what's a "good" price? Check out Mr. Dealio for a consumer friendly run down of deals based on price comparisons. For each item a "compare prices" link lists prices at a handful of retailers. Some items also have a "new low price" link which shows you how the price has fluctuated in the past week (I wish it went back even farther!) The site also says if free shipping is included.

The main page has a rolling list of sales with the most recent up top. You can search for specific items like hard drives, monitors and MP3 players by clicking on the tabs on the left. You can also watch prices for the iPod Shuffle, Nano, Classic and and Touch under Product Trackers. Strangely, Target is not listed even though its iPod prices are competitive. Mr. Dealio also doesn't list prices for refurbished iPods, which are even cheaper. Right now the lowest price for a third generation 4 GB Nano is $142.49 from Circuit City.

The site lists deals under $40, not a bad place to look for gifts. Note, most of the deals are online so if you prefer brick and mortar shopping use this site as a starting place.

Estee Lauder has a relatively generous offer for three free sample size skin potions with any $25 purchase. The freebies are Advanced Night Repair AND Advanced Night Repair for Eyes, plus either Idealist or Perfectionist [CP+]. If you want the duo with Idealist use code 3IDEAL at checkout. If you want Perfectionist use code 3PERFECT. Online only. Unclear when the deal ends.

To get your tab up to $25, buy one mascara ($19.50 to $21) and you're almost there. A pencil sharpener is $5. An eyeshadow duo is $25 exactly and comes in ten different shade pairings. Powders are $25 to $35. Free shipping on $50 or more.

J&R has hundreds of titles on sale for $7. Not a ton of brand new films, but plenty of classics you may want to stock up on, including "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon," "Donnie Brasco," and "Whale Rider." Browse all the sale titles. Standard shipping is $2.95 for the first title and $1.00 for each additional title. Unclear when sale ends.

Still haven't found a dress to wear to prom? Consider checking out a small boutique in Tarzana called Dressed Up! They are putting about 300 dresses for prom, cocktail parties and formals on sale all for $99 each this Saturday. (Sale may start Friday after 1 pm but owner is not sure when he will open that day. Call if you want to get a head start.) Look for dresses by Sue Wong, Morell Maxie, Jessica McClintock, Terani, and Jovani. Sale lasts 10 days but the best stuff will go quickly. Browse their online selection of prom dresses. A sparkly number in gold and silver hues from Sheri Hill, above, is $298.

Here's a video showing some of the dresses for $99.

If you can't find anything on the sale racks, don't despair. Prices through the store are already below retail. I stopped by in January and was surprised to find many snazzy dresses in the $100s and $200s. Many more are higher priced. Owner Michael Weintraub keeps prices below retail by limiting his advertising and operating on smaller profit margins than mass retailers. Weintraub likes to think of himself as "the Costco of better designers" because he sells so many dresses at the store and to movie and TV studios.

Here are some more suggestions for where to find a prom dress.

Visit Dressed Up! at 6000 Reseda Blvd. at Oxnard, hidden in the "Alley in the Valley" strip mall on the SE corner. (818) 708-7238. Hours are Mon to Sat 10 to 6 and Sun 11 to 4:30.

Feeling panicked about the crappy state of the stock market? Me too. But the best strategy is to think long term, according to a Q&A in yesterday's LA Times. Writer Kathy M. Kristof answers these questions: My portfolio lost 20% of its value. Should I sell? Only if you need the money for expenses in the next 12 months. But if you "simply hate the discomfort of the financial turmoil, hang tight," the story says.

I want to take action. Where do I start? Put pencil to paper and write out the worst thing that could happen. Think through the next step and the outcome may not seem so scary. Also consider re-balancing your portfolio.

If brokerage firms like Bear Stearns fail are my stocks safe? If you invest in a firm that is SIPC-insured you will "get back the stocks, bonds, mutual fund shares and cash that were in their brokerage accounts before" the firm went belly up. Check if your brokerage is SIPC-insured at www.sipc.org.

I'm retired, will I outlive my savings? You can "safely withdraw about 4% of the value of your portfolio each year" and chances are you will not outlive your savings, the story says. If your investments have dropped below 4% your spending money could shrink significantly. Get a part time job or learn to live on less.

I had high risk tolerance a few years ago but now with the crummy economy, housing market and job situation, should I reconsider my risk level? It's a good idea to revisit your risk tolerance and how your portfolio is balanced once a year.

What is a diversified portfolio? In a diversified portfolio your money is invested in lots of different places, from stocks to bonds and cash. Within each type or "class" of investment you can put the money in different places. That way if one part drops you won't feel the hit as strongly because other investments balance it out.

Read the whole story here.

I hope so. The site claims to help blogs gain readers. Technorati Profile

You may know Gaiam from yoga class but the retailer also sells organic and eco-friendly apparel and home gear, like sheets. Get free standard shipping with any order when you use code EASTER (enter it where it says "Catalog key code/Web code). Good until March 31, 2008.

Buy $100+ at Old Navy and get free shipping with promo code PATTERN until March 23, 2008. All online and catalog orders at White House Black Market come with free shipping until March 23, 3008.

Easter is this Sunday and that means time to eat ham (jellybeans and chocolate are just foreplay). Here's a survey of prices so you can get the best deal.

Ralphs has a Farmer John half ham for $.89/lb and a spiral sliced half ham for $1.29/lb. Vons has the Farmer John whole or half ham for a bit less - $.67/lb and the spiral cut for about the same price, $1.27/lb. Albertsons has the spiral cut ham for $1.29/lb and Smart & Final has the Farmer John spiral cut ham for $.179/lb, the worst deal of the bunch. If you want the spiral cut any of the three chains will do. If you do your own cutting, head to Vons.

Costco has a high end Niman Ranch 6.5lb ham for $70 (that $10.77/lb). No idea if they also sell regular hams. Anybody seen ham prices at Food 4 Less or Trader Joe's?

Caveats: grocery prices come with loyalty cards, which are free and easy to sign up for.

For a limited time, all wedding dresses at Lane Bryant are $50. Some prices are knocked down from $200. Okay, so there are only seven to choose from but this is still a good deal if you're a curvy gal in need of a white gown. One dress has a wraparound V-neck with a velveteen waistband, above. A beaded buster is $50 and the matching white skirt is sold separately.

No returns, so make sure you buy a size that can be tailored down, instead of one that you can't squeeze into. Check out their size chart.

The quickest way to get your $600 "economic stimulus" check from the U.S. government is to sign up for direct deposit. Electronic payments will be sent before any paper checks are mailed. All payments will be sent according to the last two digits of your social security number.

For direct deposit: if the last two digits of your social are 00 through 20, payment will be transmitted May 2. If the digits are 21 through 75, the money will be deposited May 9. If they 76 through 99, payday is May 16.

Paper checks will be mailed May 16 through July 11. Check exact mailing dates for paper checks. To get the $600 via direct deposit choose direct deposit when you file your 2007 tax returns. Only folks who filed a 2007 tax return are eligible to get the $600. To determine if you are eligible and how much you will get (kids are worth up to $300 each) click here. Read FAQs about the checks.

Nordstrom's has about 400 pairs of shoes that are all 50% off. You can search by width, color, brand, price, and size, which I recommend because sizes are limited. A simple boutique Nordstom flat with an understated bow comes in black, navy, brown and red, for $40 (orig $80). A black leather Matisse cuffed low boot is $60 orig ($120). A pair of Guess peep toe heels with tiny Brass stud accents, above, are $55 (orig $110). Search all the sale shoes.

Get a refurbished 8 GB Phone from AT&T for $249. Caveats: it's refurbished. Requires you to sign up for a two year plan. Activate the phone via iTunes once you get it. Warning, this deal may sell out soon because it was listed on Slickdeals.

Apple is selling new 8 GB iPhones for $400. The 16 GB is $500.

If you haven't spent any quality time surfing Snopes.com, I highly recommend it. The Web site is devoted to busting/proving popular myths and revealing e-mail hoaxes for what they are. Check their top 25 legends to get find out which of these statements are the real deal.

1. Buying gas in the morning before temperatures rise will save you money.
2. The artificial sweetener Aspartame causes cancer, brain tumors, and multiple sclerosis.
3. April 25, 2008 is a "day of silence" to protest harassment of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered people.
4. You will be paid for forwarding an e-mail from Bill Gates, Microsoft and AOL because you are helping them test a new e-mail system.
5. Jay Leno wrote an essay urging Americans to stay positive.

If you're too lazy to check the site click here for the answers.

Get 20% off many items already marked down at eBags, with some exclusions. Sale ends today! Cool part is the site tells you up front what the price is after 20% off or says the bag is "non-discountable." I like this small nylon tote with matching accessory pouch for $13.59 (orig $30). It comes in seven colors. A black and white skull messenger bag, above, is $64 (orig $90). A basic brown Tignanello shoulder bag is $80 (orig $140). The 20% off code is EMCLOVER8 but the discount seems to kick in automatically for any bag that is eligible. Shop the sale (note some items are marked down but not eligible for the 20% off discount).

Spotted a flier in the lunchroom that said you can get 15% off your next treatment at Sylvie's Skin and Body Care in Encino when you buy a gift certificate. Mention the Daily News to get the discounted treatment. Expires March 31, 2008.

A list of their facial services is here. I believe they also offer massages. The site has some basic common sense tips for beautiful skin.

Visit them at 17071 Ventura Blvd. Suite 101-A in Encino. (818) 905-8815.

There are three types, according to experts I interviewed. Accessible, aspirational and ultra. Why does anybody care? They spend way more than bargain hunters.

Accessible shoppers buy at places like Macy's and Nordstrom. They will spend about $300 on a shopping spree and buy items like a Coach handbag, Cole Haan shoes or high end J.Crew apparel. Accessible shoppers have "traded up from mass retail" stores like Mervyns and Target. "There's a noticeably lower price point versus the aspirational customer who wants to participate in what we consider true luxury brands," said luxury consultant Suzanne Hader.

Aspirational shoppers will blow a wad - $600 to $10,000 - on a purse or item of clothing from a "true" luxury brand like Gucci or Channel, but only every other year. They shop at anywhere from Macy's to Neiman Marcus. When recession looms "this is the category that pulls back first," Hader said. "They like luxuries but want to keep their house and put their kids through school."

Ultra luxury shoppers spend...as much as they want. One expert I talked to said this tiny but coveted group of buyers has "unlimited resources." They shop at Saks Fifth Avenue and Neiman Marcus and buy jewelry from top labels like Harry Winston and Van Cleef & Arpels, tropical mansions and zippy sports cars. "The true affluent person with a multi-million dollar income they are going to be willing to pay for that (quality)," said Judith Murphy, associate publisher for the American Express magazines Departures and Black Ink. "They don't want to be part of the mass luxury group."

Get a free small popcorn when you buy a fountain drink at AMC theaters Monday, Tuesday, or Thursday now through March 24. Use this printable coupon to get the discount, which requires you to sign up for their membership program. Members always get free popcorn on Wednesdays.

Find an AMC near you. Not a ton of great movies playing now, but I heard "Horton Hears a Who!" was pretty good.

Many designer purses are on sale at Macy's, from evening clutches to totes and over the shoulder bags. I like this Alfani leather clutch with a girly bow for $44 (orig $88). Comes in dark and light gray, black, bronze, and brick red. A leather laptop bag is $82.50 (orig $165). A silvery gold Calvin Klein clutch is $52.50 (orig $150). There's also a cute red patent leather purse for $34 (orig $68).

UPDATE: As many of you have commented, this was a bogus deal. I received bad info but was too rushed to double check it. Normally I do check every coupon I post so I apologize, especially to those who ventured out on Saturday morning to get a free cup of coffee. If it makes you feel any better, I'm going to drink the terrible coffee from the lunchroom machine this week as penance.

PREVIOUSLY: Starbucks is pouring free 12-ounce cups of coffee tomorrow, Saturday March 15 from 10 am to 12 noon. Find a Starbucks near you. Thanks, Kmh!

In honor of free caffeine I wrote this alternative song lyric for the chorus of Madonna's "Lucky Star."

Starbucks...coffee
First thing I drink each day
Starbucks...coffee
It's free and that's all right!

Southwest has some decent one-way fares out of Burbank. Pay $105 to/from Boise, ID, $52 to/from Las Vegas, $87 to/from Portland, $39 to/from Sacramento, $39 to/from San Jose, and $81 to/from Seattle/Tacoma. Super low fares like this always go quick so book today, seriously. I checked out one of the flights and the super cheap fares had one stop but there was a spread of flight times.

LAX fares are not bad either. Look for Southwest low fares at airports across the country.

Caveats: book by Monday, March 17 and travel between April 1 and 30, 2008.

Wow. I am *almost* in shock. Overstock.com, the online discount retailer known for their low prices on sheets, leather jackets, and watches, is now selling cars. Cars!

For each car the site lists the invoice price (what the manufacturer bills the dealer) and the MSRP (retail price as suggested by the manufacturer). To get a quote from a dealer you have to register and share a bunch of information, which Overstock sends to dealers, who contact you. The site also sells used cars and has a clearance lot. The deal of the month is a 2008 Toyota Avalon, above, for $3,679 below MSRP, according to the site.

The more you shop around for a car and the more you know about the car, the better your chances are of getting a good deal. Let me know if you save a buck!

Get an extra 20% off final sale items at J.Crew online through Saturday, March 15. The discount will automatically be added to any item you place in your cart. Get free shipping with code FS0310.

Browse men's, women's or kids sale items by size. A cotton sweater jacket is $71 (orig $140). A bold pair of red and white print shorts, above, are $31 (orig $68). A pair of men's blue swim trunks are $24 (orig $55). A men's casual corduroy jacket is $48 (orig $138). A button down men's dress shirt is $24 (orig $65). There is also a decent selection of swim suits, dresses, and pants.

Caveats: no returns or exchanges of discounted items.

The Original Hard Times Pizza Company has a special $5 Lincoln Lunch Monday through Friday from 11 to 2. For $5 you get all the pizza by the slice and pasta you can eat. All kinds of slices are included, an employee said. Pasta dishes include linguine, fettuccine, penne and spaghetti. A sign on the corner said the special is also available for dinner from 4 to 7 but the employee said they were ending that. Schmooze 'em and who knows what you will get.

Visit them at 17271 Ventura Blvd. at Louise Ave. on the NE corner (same strip mall as 60 Day Shoe Sale). (818) 995-4546. I only see reviews online for a Hard Times in Silver Lake.

Members get 25% off one regular priced item at Borders now through Sunday, March 16. Joining is free and takes about 3 minutes in stores. I push the Border's membership because it is free and when you use their big coupons the book price often rival Amazon, but you get instant gratification. Print out this coupon to get the deal.

Caveats: gotta be a member. Cannot be combined with any other offer, including but not limited to “3 for 2," "Buy 3, Get 4th Free," "Buy 4, Get 5th Free," or “Buy 1, Get 1 Half Price” offers. Excludes previous and online purchases, gift cards, newspapers, magazines, comics, coupon books, eBooks, digital downloads, Rosetta Stone® software, shipping, and all electronics, including the Sony® Reader and the Zune™.

Find a Borders near you.

Every Friday until November, Mrs. Beasley's in Encino has a buy one get one free offer for Bundt cakes, which they sell for $30. It's an 8-inch cake that serves 10 to 12. Flavors include lemon, chocolate chip, banana, orange marble, lemon blueberry, lemon chocolate chip, and mocha marble.

Visit them at 16571 Ventura Blvd in Encino. (818) 995-1987. Find out if a store near you has the deal.

I blogged about this sale last month and finally got the chance to stop in. Ladies, 60 Day Shoe Sale is the real deal. Hundreds of pairs of shoes all 80% off. Of course the "retail" prices are high to start. There are many pumps, a good selection of boots, and a few flats. Brands included Boutique, Delman, hype, Kenneth Cole, Isaac Mizrahi, Charles David, Martinez Valero, and Diego di Luca. Prices BEFORE the 80% discount ranged from the low $100s to the high $300s.

I saw a dark brown two-inch Tahari pump in with a rounded toe and accent stitching for $22 (orig $110). They were comfortable but more formal than I dress at work. I would have bought a pair of moss green suede flats by Delman for $58 (orig $290) but they were too narrow in the toes. I pair of stylish Kenneth Cole dark brown leather calf-length boots were $50 (orig $250) but none in my size. Drat!

Caveats: All sales are final. No returns, refunds or exchanges. Store closes March 31, 2008. Visit them at 17257 Ventura Blvd. on the northeast corner of Ventura Blvd. and Louise in Encino. Hours are 10 to 6 everyday except Friday, when they close early. Closed Saturday for Shabbas.

High gas prices are not going away anytime soon because the price of crude has soared to $110 a barrel. "Anyone hoping that the surge might have reached its peak is in for a rude awakening," says a LA Times story by Ronald White. I'm bracing for $4 a gallon and you should too.

Alternatives that were easy to shrug off at $3 a gallon seem much more appealing now. Arranging a carpool one or two days a week (if not five) is made easier by the Los Angeles Carpool Center. You must be a member to contact others who have posted a carpool route. Working from home (you get so much more done anyway) saves time and money as long as you can convince your boss of the merits. Here's how to be persuasive.

Last but not least, take public transportation (a little exercise will do ya good). Check out subway and bus schedules and lines on the MTA's Web site. The ever popular Orange line may expand beyond Canoga Park to Chatsworth. Thought of one more idea. Make sure to get a good price at the pump by consulting the LA Gas Map.

A gourmet cook dreams of the shiny pots, untold number of gadgets, and serving dishes sold at Sur la Table. Alas, they rarely have sales, which is why I jumped at this one. Assorted items in nine categories are marked down. Graphite baking pans for a lasagna or casserole are $25 to $55 (orig $40 to $80). A four-piece steak knife set is $30 (orig $60). Both would make great gifts for a wedding or house warming.

Easter gear is all 30% off. A red wooden sign that will warm the hearts of chocolate lovers, above, is $9 (orig $37). A set of four fuzzy chicks to cheer up your Easter table are $12 (orig $20). Not sure if the sale is as extensive in stores (or at all), but I'll understand if you prefer to shop Sur la Table's isles, if only to fuel your foodie fantasies.

Members earn double points at the discount shoe store DSW starting today through March 22, 2008. Membership is free. Normally you earn 10 points for every dollar spent, so for the next week members earn 20 points for every $1 spent. Accumulate 1,500 points ($75 in double points or $150 in regular points) and get $10 off your next purchase. More details on how the points work.

The store has double point days twice a year. DSW does not sell shoes online. Find a DSW near you.

Until March 17, T-shirts at Guess are 25% off, bringing many of their tops down to $17 or $18 (orig about $23). Browse the women's sale T's and the men's sale T's. A lot of the women's T's are in bold colors with flashy metallic writing or fun designs on them. A men's brick red shirt with black and gray print, above, is $17 (org $22.50).

Sunglasses will easily cost you hundreds of dollars and while they look a lot nicer than the super cheap ones, this is one area where I firmly support saving your dollars. It's just too easy to lose them or break them. I stopped by Target, Charlotte Russe and H&M, three bargain budget stores that carry sunglasses, to see how the good compared to those at a sunglasses boutique. For a second opinion I brought along my sunglasses-expert friend (she has like, six pairs).

The presentation at Target was best out of the three. All the glasses were hung individually against a back lit wall. One group was $6, the others were $12 to $20. Three Mossimo pairs caught our eye, including an oversized silvery-white rimmed pair, a classic black pair, and a set with dual tone rims, which my in-house expert liked enough to purchase for $16. Browse their sunglasses online.

At Charlotte Russe all the sunglasses were $6. Nice, but some really did look super cheap. I really liked a dark purple pair - anything goes at the beach, right? - and would have bought them if I didn't wear a prescription. Foiled again! There were also plenty of blinged out pairs with shiny gold rims if you go for that sort of thing.

The selection at H&M was fair but many seemed to look ever cheaper than those that came before. Only one pair caught our eye, a set of aviator frames that are still so popular these days (with good reason). We can't all look like Brad, but we can pretend.

(not my actual lunch) I've never eaten Persian food before but felt adventurous today, almost as if it were a Friday. Perhaps seeing a chiropractor for the first time this morning did it (visit was not as scary as I expected, but it was awfully strange having a man I'm not intimate with undo my bra strap). Come noontime it was off to Shamshiri Restaurant (no Web site, unfortunately) in Northridge.

Daily Specials are $8.95 and up so I turned to the lunch specials, which range from $5.95 to $8.95. A reader recommended the Ghormeh Sabzi beef stew, but warned "it is UGLY but very good. Every person I have had try it loves it." The $6.45 stew had two big chunks of meat, lots of kidney beans, spinach, and a lot of lemon. The tangy flavor might actually have been fenugreek. Stew came with a heaping of white and yellow rice and crusted rice. I liked it but think next time I will try a fish dish or a kabob.

Shamshiri got an average of four stars from reviewers on Yelp. Visit them at 19249 Roscoe Blvd on the NE corner of Tampa and Roscoe. (818) 885-7846. Thanks, Rein!

What the heck is a Lincoln Lunch?

Reader Judy wrote me about the One Dollar Bookstore, her favorite place to pick up $1 reads. I hesitated to blog about the store because I have not been there and I don't often get over to Burbank, where A&S is located. But I didn't want to deprive anyone of a $1 book.

The store has fiction, non-fiction, hard and soft covers, used titles, children's books, coffee table books, cookbooks, craft and gardening books, and comics. They are not organized so you have to peruse the shelves yourself. Judy bought hardcover books by Jonathan Kellerman, Stuart Woods, David Baldacci and Wilbur Smith. She also bought a Jay Leno book.

All sales are final. Visit them at 301 San Fernando Blvd. in Burbank. (818) 238-0371. Hours are Sun to Thur 10am to 10pm, Fri and Sat 10am to 12am.

The store is partners with A&S Books, which owns Crown Books, which runs the Web site. Two reviews on Yelp give it the thumbs up.

The online and mail order retailer Garnet Hill sells women's clothes by Eileen Fisher and similar styles, kids clothes, and home gear. Basically it's one stop shopping for moms. They have a sale of the day and today there is one item in each category.

An Eileen Fisher fine cotton cardigan is $74 (orig $118). Lace trimmed tanks for girls and toddlers are $16 (orig $20 and $22). Vibrant red, orange, and pink flowers perk up blue 200-thread count sheets, above, which are sold separately.

Thanks, Sarah!

Spa Week is like restaurant week, but for massages and other body treatments. During Spa Week, April 14 to 20, participating spas will offer two to three treatments for $50 each. Normally they run $100 to $200. Treatments can include a basic massage, facial, laser treatment, manicure or pedicure. Organizers are focusing on "green" treatments so many of those offered will involve organic materials, detoxification or herbs.

Note they are not booking appointments until Monday, March 17. To make an appointment you must register on the site, sharing your name, e-mail and zip code. After registering, search for participating spas by city and find out what treatments are available.

Spa Week is happening in 21 cities across the country at 400+ spas. Participating cities include Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego, Chicago, Dallas, Atlanta, New York, Austin, Baltimore, Boston, Denver, Detroit, Philly, Portland, Seattle. Plus Florida, Arizona, Minnesota, New Jersey, Washington D.C. and Toronto.

The price of a first class stamp, now $.41, goes up to $.42 May 12. (Inflation and all that jazz.) That means it's a great time to buy $.41 Forever stamps, which are still good after the price goes up.

The post office has stocked 5 billion Forever stamps to meet demand. You can buy them at post offices, contract postal units, consignment locations, automated postage centers, vending machines, and online.

Saving a penny per stamp does not make sense if you
a) hate going to the post office
b) have a history of losing stamps
c) don't mail letters
d) already buy rolls of 100 at Costco for a few pennies off

You can also buy discounted postage stamps from collectors looking to unload their goods.

Get 30% off regular priced items at Ralph Lauren online until March 28. When checking out use coupon code RLSP2008. Standard shipping is $10 on all purchases.

Caveats: not good in stores, Ralph Lauren, RRL, Rugby or Polo Ralph Lauren Factory Stores, department stores of the privately owned Ralph Lauren store in Sacramento. Previous purchases are not eligible for adjustments. Discount does not apply to previously purchased merchandise or sale items and may not be combined with any other offers.

Forget Good Vibrations. A new study says yoga can help men perform in bed. All that slow breathing and pelvis strength that yoga builds, apparently. Here's the low down from a blog called That's Fit: "According to a study out of India, and published in a recent issue of the Journal of Sexual Medicine, men who practiced yoga on a regular basis had less instances of premature ejaculation. Following a group of men, all of whom admitted to regularly having premature ejaculations during intercourse, researchers found that practicing an hour of yoga each day for 12 weeks helped them triple the time they normally lasted in bed."

I guess I'll be seeing a lot more men doing downward dog in yoga. Here's a listing of yoga classes all across LA.

This Wednesday Mervyns marks down a ton of stuff by 50% when you use your Mervyns credit card. In the kid's department all dresses, Southpole clothing, play wear for newborns, and High Sierra clothing for boys will be marked down. In women's, lounge wear and robes, plus select items from other brands will be half off. In men's all Southpole polos, suit separates and sport coats, High Sierra denim jeans, and Arrow sport shirts are on sale.

All Hillard & Hanson wedges and sandals are half off. Select athletic shoes and women's Skechers are on sale. Sunglasses, Hillard & Hanson handbags, solid bath towels, and Real Kitchen Basics cookware and gadgets are half off. Select items in many more categories are also part of the sale.

Looks like you can also get up to 20% off on 20 items when you use your Mervyns card and have a 20/20 savings pass (available in stores). Caveats: the 20% discount is not good on Levi's, Guess, Hallmark, previous purchases, mail or phone orders, discontinued jewelry and cannot be combined with other percentage off discounts. Find a store near you.

Select toys are up to 60% off at KB Toys until March 24, 2008, though I found many toys marked down up to 75%. Search all the sale toys here. A five-inch superman figurine is $3 (orig $8). A Superman costume for playing dress up, above, is $5 (orig $15). A princess dress up costume is $5 (orig $20).

A wooden Noah's ark comes with 16 animals and is $8 (orig $20). A Dora the Explorer bedroom set is $8 (orig $10). Many Bratz dolls are marked down from $30 to $16.

I'm always looking to improve the site which is why I took this reader suggestion to heart. How about a blog post devoted to reliable sites for coupon codes? I sorta thought I had taken care of this with the links at right under "My Faves," but I realized if you are not already familiar with each site, it's unclear which ones specialize in coupon codes.

So I broke out my top five sites for coupon codes at right. Here's a run down to get you started. Retailmenot is searchable, plus it lists popular stores and coupons. For each code it lists the success rate and reader comments. Many of the codes are no longer good, unfortunately.

Current Codes lets you search...

UPDATE: I moved this post up because so many readers have asked about it. Note, there are a lot of caveats and you may have to try multiple seats to get the discount. Good luck!

PREVIOUSLY: A breathless Michelle wrote in that she found a new discount code for Wicked tickets that is good through May 22. Yea! The last code expired in February. The new promo code is FAMILY and is case sensitive when you buy through Ticketmaster. The code brought the price of a $97.50 ticket down to $60. Not too shabby.

Wicked, which bills itself as the "untold story of the witches of oz" before Dorothy dropped in, is playing at the Pantages in Los Angeles.

Caveats: Like the old code, this deal is only for shows on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. It is good for the $95.50 tickets but not $57.50 tickets. Thanks, Michelle!

Get all the day's new sales and coupon by plugging your email into the box on the upper left corner of the site. I send the daily digest once a day Monday through Friday, though a strategically placed kitty may block your access! Some readers find getting the digest easier than going to the site. And I don't share e-mail addresses. Period. ~Julia

The fashionable budget retailer H&M is introducing their kids line with a 20% off coupon that is good towards a pair of shorts, pants or jeans in the kids department. Discount starts March 14 and goes until March 30 at US H&M stores only.

One of the reasons I like their clothes is that they are cheap, sure, but more interesting than what you see at Gap or Old Navy. The clothes don't generally wear well - I bought a $15 swimsuit that only lasted one year - but with kids I would think this would be less of a concern. Chances are they are going to grow out of it or get a huge stain on it before it falls apart, no? To be fair, an H&M work shirt lasted two years and I'm still wearing socks I bought there three years ago.

Caveats: gotta have a copy of the coupon, cannot be combined with any other discount or be applied to previous purchases. One coupon per customer. Find an H&M near you.

Thanks, Jen!

Two's Company Interiors, which decorates homes for sale with furniture and artwork, is going out of business. They are selling small furniture items (end tables, mirrors, nightstands) and the office furniture the business has used (desks, file cabinets). Don't expect big items like couches or chairs because there won't be any. The owner is retiring because of the crummy housing market. Small furniture items run $50 to $125 and art work (contemporary, Western, Swedish and Americana paintings and prints) run $15 to $300, an employee said.

Sale starts Friday and ends Tuesday. Hours are Friday from 8:30 to 4:30, Sat and Sun from 8:30 to 3:30, and Mon and Tue 8:30 to 4:30. Visit them at 20620 Plummer St. in Chatsworth near Lamps Plus on the south side of the street. Parking and entrance in back. Thanks, Theresa!

Get a free movie rental from Redbox, those hulking red vending machines inside Albertsons and other grocery stores, on Monday night when you give them your email address. I tried it and they e-mailed me the code BREAKROOM. Get a free Monday night rental for the rest of the month when you give them your cell phone number. Code is good for in store rentals, not online.

Clearly they are building their database of customers and want to be able to send them info about the service. I prefer email because you can always unsubscribe. Find a Redbox near you. Note the selection is limited and can be crappy. This link lists titles available at Redboxes, including "Into the Wild," "Darjeeling Limited," and "Beowulf."

Check out the sale pages of Bloomingdale's online where shoes, clothes, home goods are 15% to 70% off. I checked and there are some decent deals in the sale.

A pair of Cole Haan leather thong sandals are $94 (orig $135). Gold lizard skin peep toe pumps from Isabella Fiore, above, are $158 (orig $395). A leather/suede hobo purse from Marc Jacos is $135 (orig $450). A silk/wool V-neck top is is $38 (orig $77) and a matching jacket (for business or fun) is $65 (orig $131).

Browse sale shoes, handbags, women's clothes, and men's clothes. Thanks, Sarah!

Get free tickets online or over the phone to five ABC shows being taped in LA, including Dancing with the Stars, George Lopez Show, Jimmy Kimmel Live, According to Jim and America's Funniest Home Videos. Could be a fun way to see your favorite stars up close or give visiting friends and family a real LA experience. Get all the info here.

You can also get free tickets to The View and Good Morning America, which are taped in New York.

The upscale kitchen store Williams-Sonoma has decent sales online with plenty of Easter items. Mini Easter totes that look like a chick, bunny or pink tulip, above, are $9 for a pair (orig $12). Perfect for holding a few treats. Six chocolate carrots for decoration and eating are $10 (orig $15).

Non-Easter sale items include a set of three earthenware canisters with a blue and white wine pattern are $40 (orig $100). Not bad at all. A stainless steel wine bucket is $29 (orig $49). Thanks, Sarah!

I often drive home through Topanga Canyon and there is one spot just before the PCH where I always hear a healthy chorus of ribits. So when I decided to attempt commuting home on my bike I looked forward to passing that spot. Hearing frogs splash around in mud always puts a smile on my face. Who knew?

Once I started pedaling I remembered how my legs burn on the bike, which made me think of how my lungs burn when I swim, and how my hip burns when I run. I take this to mean I'm on fire, baby!

I'm putting myself through fire for a good cause. My goal is to raise $5,000 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. The event I'm training for is the Wildflower Olympic triathlon. On May 4 I plan to swim .92 miles, bike 25 miles, and run 6.2 miles.

So far it's going really well. I've raised more than $2,500 from about 30 donors and am doing crazy things like riding my bike home from work, a 22 mile commute. No frogs cheered me on as I passed (I think it was too early in the day) but I did get my speedometer up to 37.7 mph on the steepest, curviest part of the Canyon. Don't worry Mom, I probably won't do that again.

Get $10 off your tab of $30 or more at Bed, Bath and Beyond stores now until April 20, 2008. Not good online. You can print this coupon more than once, though I think you can only use one per transaction.

Caveats: not good on gift cards and the following brands: All-Clad, Nautica®, Tempur-Pedic®, Wusthof®, AeroGrow, Margaritaville®, The Sharper Image, DKNY, Tommy Bahama®, Wedgwood®, Lenox®, Waterford®, Vera Wang, Nambe®, Riedel, Orrefors Kosta Boda, Oreck®, Capresso, Miele, kate spade, Swarovski,
Versace, Alessi, Richard Ginori, and Frette Home products.

A men's valet with room for a watch, keys, wallet, sunglasses, cuff links and other manly items is $20 after you use the coupon (sale price $30). Check to see that it's for sale in your local store because the coupon does not work online. Find a BBB near you.

A reader named Debbie called in to recommend NoHo Custom Framing in North Hollywood. She says they have "terrific deals and do beautiful work." She has checked around and believes they have some of the best prices around. The place got a stellar review on Yelp from a guy who said the shop did the piece at right for $50. I have never been there.

Visit them at 11410 Burbank Blvd., Suite 8, in North Hollywood. (818) 980-0114. Thanks, Debbie!

Get a whopping 40% off your entire purchase at Lane Bryant online now until Sunday, March 9 and in stores this weekend. Print the coupon here. Online use code 000409797.

Caveats: not valid at the Lane Bryant Outlet, on clearance or Perfect Price Every Day items including 5 for $25 and 3 for $24 panties, Right Fit, Goddess, Fantasie, Le Mystère, Bravado, Glamorise or Spanx. One coupon per customer. May be used only once, can't be combined with other coupons or discounts.

I don't even have clothes nice enough to *go* to this sale, but maybe you do. Stylist Michele Pietra open her high fashion resale boutique Metamorphosis by Michele Pietra to the public this weekend in Beverly Hills. The sale will have couture and designer goods for 50 to 90% below retail, according to a publicist. But you can still expect to see big prices - there will be wine and "nibbles" while you shop.

Sale items include a Chanel Boucle Jacket discounted from $2,190 to $525; an Alexander McQueen Lace Corset discounted from $2,000 to $800; a YSL White Downtown Bag discounted from $1,600 to $725; and an oversized Ferragamo Python Satchel discounted from $4,200 to $1,100. Shoes and boots by Blahnik, Louboutin, Choo, Prada, YSL, Chanel will be offered from $98.

Sale is being held at the Fabric Salon, 152 South Beverly Drive in Beverly Hills. Hours are Sunday, March 9 from 10 to 5 and Monday, March 10 from 11 to 6. (310) 274-7574.

Get $10 off any purchase at the Body Shop when you sit for a free skin consultation or makeover. Good through Monday, March 10. Bring in this printable coupon for the discount. Find a store near you.

Not sure if the store is having trouble but I find employees are being much more flexible with my Body Shop rewards card. It costs $10 but you get 10% off every purchase for a year and $10 off any purchase during your birthday month. They don't send you a reminder and I forgot, but the employee let me use it a few weeks late. Also, last year they renewed the card for free.

10% off thousands of items at Design Within Reach does not seem like a great deal to me, but I'm guessing the demand for their sleek, modern furniture is strong enough that even 10% will have the house proud calculating where a new chair will fit. DWR's stuff is gorgeous, after all. Warning: ample budget required.

A funky but really cool bookshelf, above, is $445 (orig $495). Browse all their categories, like bedroom, classics, seating, storage, and dining. Within each category there is an "on sale" tab at the bottom. Sale ends Tuesday, March 18. Find a store near you.

Get 100 business cards from Staples for $2 including shipping. Ends today! Click on the above link then look on the right for the box advertising the sale. When I click on the box the page comes up but doesn't load fully so I don't know if it is not working or just overloaded with people trying to get the deal.

Use coupon code 93128. Good online or over the phone (800-378-2753).

Get 20% off regular priced items at Banana Republic - 25% if you have a BR credit card - now until Sunday, March 9. Good online only. Use coupon code ACCESS when checking out. A mocha halter tank, above, is $30 or $22.50 if you buy another top on this page.

Even though the coupon doesn't work on sale items I always like to check what they have marked down, like this coral bracelet for $25 (orig $38). Browse men's offerings, shoes and handbags, and petite's apparel. Shipping is $6 flat. Note, the site seems to be really slow.

Now until Saturday, March 8 get $10 of your purchase of $25 or more at Office Depot stores. It's part of their grand opening event, but the coupon is good at all their stores. Good on supplies, furniture, cameras, printers, TVs and other stuff. Must have the coupon to get the discount. Find a store near you.

Caveats: not good on computers, gift cards, stamps, HP ink and toner, wireless, satellite Internet, technology or installation. Not good online.

UPDATE: If you tried this coupon and it didn't work it's because I am a dork and spelled the code wrong. It's NEWEBSITE.

PREVIOUSLY: Check out Eddie Bauer's new Web site and get 20% off site wide until Sunday, March 9. Use coupon code NEWEBSITE. The new site has bigger photos and is supposed to be more user friendly. It seems easy enough to use but I'm not familiar with the old site so I can't give a comparison.

BEFORE the discount all pants are $10 off. They have cute dresses that fall below the knee, like this green V-neck dress with pinstripes for $78. A thin stripe scarf in pink hues or in green and purple hues is $30. A pair of pearl bead earrings are $30.

Browse the men's clothes, bags and gear, and shoes and accessories.

Get $10 off your tab of $25 or more at the women's apparel store Delia's with promo code DWCGIFT. It's unclear how long the code is good for. It worked in caps for me so it may be case sensitive. I like these low rise jeans with a "vintage" wash for $39.50. Jeans and pants are now buy one get one half off. Also check out their clearance pages, with shoes, hoodies, pants, dresses, sweaters and T-shirts up to 70% off.

Delia's does not have any stores in California.

Sears mondo tool sale ends Saturday. All the tools on this page are half off, including a 12-inch tool bag for $5 (orig $10) and a Craftsman mini digital multimeter for $10 (orig $20).

A Craftsman 245 -piece tool set that comes with a three-drawer chest is $200 (orig $250). A similar 263-piece tool set for $170 (orig $270) has already sold out online but check if it's available at your local store or if they will give you a rain check.

Browse all the tool categories on sale by looking at the left hand column of this page. Find a Sears near you.

Get 30% off at Calvin Klein stores (note, there are very few standalone CK stores and the nearest one around here is at the Beverly Center) now until Sunday, March 9. Print out this coupon to get the discount, which is good on regular priced and sale merchandise. You can also print the coupon for the Beverly Center by clicking here and scrolling down.

Caveats: not good on previous purchases or gift cards. Look at where their stores are.

UPDATE: Readers report that for those over 49 registering is needed to get your expected lifespan.

PREVIOUSLY: The Web site Livingto100.com will tell you how long you can expect to live. Take their 40-question multiple choice survey (takes about 10 minutes) and it will spit out an age. Most of the questions are about your health, diet, stress load, and family health history. I am going to live to be 93!

After you take the quiz the site offers tips to extend your life, tailored to your answers. Mine said flossing every day can add a year to my life (and don't worry, the time it takes to floss daily multipled by my expected lifespan does *not* at all cancel out the year I would gain. I did the math just in case). It also suggested I SKIP an iron supplement because iron has been shown to contribute to heart problems, the site says.

Sharing your email and contact info is optional so you won't get a lot of spam if you take the life expectancy calculator.

Looking for an Easter outfit? The price comparison Web site Shopzilla.com lays out an assortment of Easter dresses for girls with many options under $15. A white sleeveless dress with a long pleated skirt is $11.50 at Target. Opps, it's sold out, as are all of the Target dresses on the page. Grrrr. A yellow seersucker dress from Sears is $12. Search Shopzilla's assortment of boy's dress shoes and boy's dress pants. Browse all their Easter apparel categories.

Going straight to the retailers, Kohl's marks down dresses and dressy apparel by 40%, including an adorable white dress with eyelet embroidery at the neckline and hem and a yellow daisy tied to the front, above, for $13 (orig $22). A dress from JCPenney has polka dots in three shades of blue for $25 (orig $50). Macy's has many dresses and a few slacks and shirts for boys, but higher prices. One item on sale is a baby girl's dress with contrasting patterns, for $18 (orig $26).

Easter is March 23 so you have two weekends plus the Saturday before the holiday to shop.

Sketchers has many pairs of shoes marked down by 40% online. The sale is limited to the 153 pairs on this page. Use code SALE40 at checkout.

A pair of grungy brown women's sneaks with Asian-inspired red embroidery is $33 (orig $55). A canvas print boot with an artsy sunburst pattern and a side button is $30 (orig $50). There are many fewer pairs of sale shoes for men, but I spotted a black clog for $41 (orig $69). Don't you just love a man who can pull of a pair of clogs? So...European.

Unclear when the sale ends. Promo code includes free shipping.

Just a quick note that Macy's bra and intimates sale starts today. The main discount is that when you buy two bras you get a third free for all bras made by Warner, Lilyette, Bali, Maidenform, Vanity Fair, Olga's Christna and Jockey. Sale ends Sunday, March 9. Find a Macy's near you.

The Dock Downtown, a discount furniture and home furnishings store, is going out of business March 9 and until then everything is 20% off the lowest marked price. Here is their selection of upholstered sofas, which they claim are priced 40 to 80% below retail. No prices online but you can browse their selection of beds, chairs, and dining room chairs. They also sell ottomans, sleeper sofas, benches and tables.

Visit them at 1481 East 4th St. in Los Angeles. (323) 446-0281 ext. 201. Hours are Thursday through Saturday from 10 to 6 and Sunday and Monday from 11 to 5. Cash and credit card only. Parking on site is free. From the Valley take 101 South or 5 South, exit 4th st, turn right onto 4th and the store is between Clarence and Anderson.

Just in time for prom Arden B is shaving $20 off every regular priced dress in their collection. Prices range from $98 to $148 for dresses that are tres short, like this hot pink strapless number, left, which is $128 (orig $148). A black chain link dress with a plunging V-neckline is $78 (orig $98). You could wear either to prom. The Arden B site only shows nine dresses for sale but there may be more in store. Find an Arden B near you.

Get $10 off orders of $70 or more at Petsmart online until March 31, 2008. Use promo code SAVEMAR in caps when checking out. It comes up right at the beginning of the checkout process, which is nice because you know right away if it is working. Until March 17 all toys are 10% off and Flexi retractable leashes are 20% off until March 31. A 24 oz box of IAMS puppy biscuits is $3.50.

Caveats: limit one coupon per customer per transaction. Not valid with any other discount or offer.

Do I know where to get limo deals? A reader named Caryn asked so I looked and found LimoDeals.com, a Web site that lists limo rental companies. You have to call each company to get a quote, unfortunately. But the site does have helpful tips on what to ask before you rent, like if the company provide beverages or if you can bring your own. If possible, go and look at the limo so there are no surprises. Here are tips just for prom rentals.

Before you start calling companies know what type of limo you want and the number of people that will be riding along. Take notes so you can compare afterwards. Many companies will give you a discount when you mention LimoDeals.com, the site says. Here is a list of limo companies in California by city. You can also search by zip code.

Get $30 off your $100 purchase at The Limited now until March 23, 2008, with some limitations. This printable coupon is good in stores only. If you don't think you will buy that much, shop with a friend.

Caveats: excludes permanent markdowns, previous purchases, gift cards, cosmetics or markdowns. Hmmm, wonder if that means the discount is only good on full priced merchandise.

Find a store near you. Their Web site is retarded and does not let you shop online.

La.com has a fun story today by Melissa Heckscher about a woman who believes a man's shoe says a lot about who he is. The "shoe-ologist," Donna Sozio, set up a stand on the Venice boardwalk to test her intuition and found she had some serious skills. In the story Sozio says "I used to think, 'Oh, Donna, don't be so superficial; they're just shoes,'" she says. "But those same qualities I didn't like about the shoes showed up in my relationships three months, six months, nine months down the line....Relationships need maintenance, they need repair, they need to be shined up just like shoes do."

So what does a shoe say about a man? Here is Sozio's guide.

Oversize basketball shoes

What it means: "Basketball is a group sport. He's probably more comfortable in groups," says Donna Sozio, author of "Never Trust a Man in Alligator Loafers: What His Shoes Really Say About His Love Potential." "And big shoes are a sign of protection."

How to handle him: Don't force him to...

Get 15% off all the hundreds of pairs of final sale shoes at Piperlime today only! Remember, none of these purchases can be returned or exchanged. Sizes are limited. Use promo code SECRET when checking out.

With the discount a pink flat with cute holes, right, by Dolce Vita is $38 (orig $100). A Nine West Benton boot, left, is $64 (orig $189). There are also many pairs appropriate for prom. You can search the women's final sale shoes by size, color, brand, price and width. The men's final sale selection is pitiful - seven pairs!

Am I saving enough? This question that has been on my mind since the Daily News laid off 22 newsroom employees Friday. How long could Hubby and I get by if I was not working? I turned to AnalyzeNow.com, which Newsweek recommended in its March 3 issue, for free planning advice. The site is run by retired Boeing president and engineer Henry "Bud" K. Hebeler.

The Web site does not have direct links to its free retirement planning tools, unfortunately. But it is easy to navigate by clicking on the links on the left side of the home page.) Under "Free Programs" there are tools for pre-retirement planning, whether you should take Social Security at 62, 66 or 70, a calculator to determine your investment's return, and a savings planner to help you create a budget that will allow you to retire comfortably.

The site also has answers to basic retirement questions. Click on "Ask Bud About" for detailed answers to if you should pay off your mortgage before retiring, how long to wait before you start taking social security, and the pros and cons of international investments.

You can buy a comprehensive planner for $49 to $89 under the "Comprehensive Planning" link.

(not my actual lunch) How convenient is this? A taco restaurant adjacent to a car wash. It is especially brilliant if you are hungry, which I usually am. To satisfy my hunger I ordered the three taco combo plate at Tacos y Cemitas Puebla while next door my friend had Canoga Park Car Wash spiff up her Prius. The open air eatery was enclosed in clear plastic so we could see the cars roll off the washer.

The tacos - one pollo, one pastor, one asada - were delicious after I dressed them up with chopped onions and cilantro, a squeeze of lime, and green salsa. The rice was fine but the refried beans were very bland. A few chips were a tasty addition to the plate. The menu in the window priced the meal at $5.99 but they charged me $4.99 so it ended up being a Lincoln Lunch.

Other $5 Lincoln Lunches (so-named because that's Lincoln on the fiver) on the menu included three taquitos for $4.95, enchiladas for $4.95, two hard shell tacos for $4.99 and two fish tacos for $4.99. Tostadas were $3.50 and $3.25 and super nachos were $4. All the breakfast items were under $5.

Visit them at 21008 Sherman Way in Canoga Park. (818) 704-4773. Open 9 to 11 everyday.

Opening day for the new Trader Joe's in Woodland Hills is Friday, March 7 at 8 am. Earlier I blogged that it was opening February 29, but that was incorrect. The new store is at 21054 Clarendon St where Long's Drugs used to be, right across from the Holiday Inn. It's basically on Ventura between Canoga and DeSoto.

The entrance to the store is off the parking lot in back. A flyer said there would be a party from 8 to 9 am on opening day. Hmmmm, wonder if that means free food...

Well it's official. Hubby has a new woman in his life and I've been bumped to #2. Her name is Lola and she is, I hate to admit, exceedingly cute. (See the lookalike at left.) Lola always greets Hubby with a smile and has time to play (I've been known to be grumpy and preoccupied). She doesn't talk back or ask questions, like when are you going to take out the recycling? (I ask weekly.) And she lets Hubby rub her belly whenever he wants. (I'm ticklish.)

Lola usurped my position as lady of the house quite quickly. It took less than a day, actually. A few hours after our neighbors, aka Lola's parents, went on vacation Hubby was sneaking Lola treats and letting her lounge on the couch.

But I'm not worried for two reasons. One, Hubby is so happy with Lola around. The last two mornings he woke up before 7 am - before 7 am! - to take Lola on a walk, completely on his own volition. Both times he came back smiling and sweaty. Somehow Lola had convinced Hubby to - gasp - run. How many times have I invited him on a jog??? Afterwards he didn't complain about his ailing knees or his swollen ankles. Instead, he sweetly asked Lola to eat her breakfast.

Still, I'm not worried about being number two. But not because of my marriage certificate or years of partnership or joint banking account with Hubby. Nope, it's that Lola goes home Wednesday.

Reader Dee writes in that the Daily Grill in Universal City is having a $5 martini special on Tuesdays only. Called to check and the manager confirmed the drink special is from 4 to 7 pm Tuesdays. It lasts a few more weeks. $5 is a great price for a martini, which usually start at $10.

The special is only at the Universal City location. I stopped in at the Daily Grill in Studio City and the bartender said their martinis were $7 during happy hour but if you schmooze him a tad I bet he would make you a $5 well drink.

Visit the Universal City location at 1000 Universal Studios Blvd #130. (818) 760-4448. Thanks, Dee!

Those jersey cotton sheets I was salivating over last week are now on sale for $10 at Target (orig $20). I dropped by this morning to check the quality and decided they were soft enough to buy a set, which will replace our red flannel sheets that my Mom gave me when I went to college. (They kept me very warm on the East Coast but now have a few holes.) The set includes a flat sheet, fitted sheet and two pillow cases. I do hope they get a little softer with washing, however.

Many other sheet sets, towels and bathmats are on sale through March 8, 2008. Looks like the sale is also online. Scroll down to where it says Weekly Ad, then click on sheets or towels. Find a Target near you.

Thinking of sprucing up your yard for Easter? Head to Smith & Hawken's garden sale to get 20% off garden structures, arches, edgers, and window boxes. If only I had some dirt to dig my hands into. For those who do, a steel twining arch is $175 (orig $219) and spreadable trellises are $33 to $38. A little wooden bridge that adds whimsy to any yard, right, is $159 (orig $199).

Browse all the sales here. Unclear how long the sale lasts. Find a Smith & Hawken near you.

Rev your engines, ladies. The Macy's bra sale starts Wednesday, March 5 and goes until Sunday, March 9. During the sale buy two bras and get a third free for all bras made by Warner, Lilyette, Bali, Maidenform, Vanity Fair, Olga's Christna and Jockey.

Get an extra 15% off sale and clearance intimate wear with a coupon inside their "fit matters" booklet advertising the sale. You don't have to have or use your Macy's card to get the discount, but if you do have a Macy's card you will automatically get the extra savings, with or without the coupon. There are a lot of exclusions - specials, Everyday Values, bonus buys, maternity and designer apparel are not included.

Browse their bra selection online. Find a Macy's near you.

Here's a code for a free two week trial for Netflix, the DVD through the mail service. It is good through March 30, 2008. Go to this Netflix page and enter code A80017533.

Caveats: One per household, first time customers only, your account will be billed unless you cancel. See all the details here.