April 2008 Archives

Oh, how I wish I was not on a budget! A downtown shoe wholesaler is selling designer shoes at a significant discount this Saturday. The store only opens to the public when it benefits a charity, which in this case is LA Commons, a group that cultivates "highly visible public art projects that tell dynamic neighborhood stories."

An organizer named Julie said the warehouse is big and filled with high end shoes. The sale is from 12 to 4 p.m. and shoes are either $35 (for pairs that retail for $100), $70 (retails for $200), $105 (retails for $300) or $140 (retails for $400). Look for brands like Stuart Weitzman, Robert Clergerie, Donald Pliner, Kate Spade, Anne Klein, Via Spiga, Calvin Klein, Claudia Ciuti, Salvatore Ferragamo, Hollywould, Stephane Kelian, Enzo, and Cynthia Rowley.

The sale is at Dave Berger & Sons on 403. E. Washington Blvd. at the north east corner of Washington and Maple. (213) 749-9964. For questions about the sale call Julie at (310) 924-8453.

Caveats: cash and major credit cards only. Expect to pay a $2 to $4 charge for paying with your credit card.

Directions: From the 10 east, exit on Maple. Turn RIGHT on Maple once you exit the freeway. The building where Dave Berger & Sons is located is on the left (east) side of Maple, just before Washington Blvd., next to the alley where you will see a brick and mustard colored building with the name "Centro Cristiano Missionero". Turn LEFT into the alley to park (just know there is limited parking in the alley) OR park across the street opposite the building with the address 1734 Maple. If you don't park in the alley, you walk a very short distance from the street. Above the 2nd door, along the alley, the sign will read Dave Berger & Sons. The actual address is 403 E. Washington, however, the entrance to this wholesale supplier does NOT face Washington, but runs along side the alley.

Swimsuits for $26, tanks and T-shirts from $6, camis for $6 and baby doll tops for $13. These are the prices I'm seeing at the Arizona Jeans Everything Under the Sun sale. Get a new suit and a few summery beach outfits for under $50. Not too shabby.

A two-piece polka dot bikini, above, is $13 for each piece. Shop sale items for gals, guys, shoes, and accessories. Unclear how long the sale lasts.

Tomorrow is taco truck night! A new county law that fines trucks for idling more than an hour may do away with taco trucks. Some of us, especially those who appreciate the trucks for their cheap, tasty meals, are ticked off. District 1 County Supervisor Gloria Molina and the L.A. Board of Supervisors are to blame.

"Citations will be punishable by fines starting at $100 for the first offense," according to a story in the Daily Breeze. "If the District Attorney's Office chooses instead to treat the offense as a misdemeanor, it will be punishable by a fine of up to $1,000 or six months in jail or both, he said."

Join this petition to save taco trucks and show your support by eating at a taco truck tomorrow, May 1. Before they are gone add your favorite taco truck to a site that lists dozens, mostly in NoCal.

Albertsons is having an eight hour sale tomorrow, Thursday May 1 from 1 to 9 p.m. The prices are super low on select items, so stick to your list and you will come out ahead.

Bottles of Gatorade are 69-cents for 32 ounces, Ultrabrite toothpaste in 6 ounce tubes OR Colgate Plus toothbrushes are 10 for $10. Large sweet mangos are 2 for $1, a 35-pack of Crystal Geyser Spring half liter water bottles is $3 +CRV. Albertsons brand cheese in 8-ounce chunks are 2 for $3. Get meat sliced at the deli (Hormel Honey, Virginia or Cooked Ham or Jennie-O Oven Roasted Turkey) and it will cost you $3/lb. A set of 18 fresh baked chocolate cookies at the bakery is $2.

Sales may vary by store. If they are out of an item ask for a rain check. The number of items you can buy in each sale category may be limited. Find an Albertsons near you.

A number of small hotels and inns are offering gas freebies or major tank savings when you book a few nights. The Colonial Terrace in Carmel will knock $25 off your bill when you show up in a Hybrid for a Sunday through Thursday stay. Book for dates before June 30, 2008 to get the deal.

The Tin Lizzie Inn in Fish Camp, CA marks the 100th anniversary of the Model T Ford be selling you gas for your Model T (which they happily rent) at 20-cents a gallon when you book one night. Or, you can get $20 to cover the entrance into the park. Mention Tanks A lot when booking. Valid June 1 to July 25, 2008.

Similar deals at Prufrock's Garden Inn by the Beach in Carpinteria, Bear River Ranch in Grass Valley, CA and the Kern River Inn Bed & Breakfast in Kernville, CA. Search all the California gas deals at hotels and inns.

I don't know if this Web site is a godsend or another example of people being way too uptight. StopForwarding.us lets you anonymously e-mail someone a message asking them to stop forwarding mass e-mails containing jokes and stories.

The anonymous message doles out a lesson in e-mail etiquette. "Avoid sending forwards to friends or relatives that you've grown distant with. It can be frustrating for the recpient (sic) when the only correspondance (sic) you have with someone is via impersonal, unwanted email."

While you are at it, don't forget to spell check! Read the full e-mail your unwitting friend will receive.

I can think of a one or two people who send me messages every month that I'd rather not receive. But I choose to open them. If you really don't want to be bothered with jokes that have been forwarded a million times (hence the heading), delete them! You can always ask the offending sender to leave you off their e-mails. But sending an anonymous email? That's kind of snarky, don't you think? Of course, if you don't feel comfortable approaching the sender (say ita co-worker, this would resolve the situation tension-free.

Get a discount on home repair and maintenance with a coupon for $5 off a purchase of $25 or more at TrueValue hardware. Click here to enter your email so they can send you the coupon. Expires July 4, 2008 so come back to print out more as you need them.

Caveats: one per customer, stores may limit eligible items to certain items in stock, not valid with other discounts, not refundable. Find a TrueValue near you.

Get 20% off regular, sale and clearance merchandise at Macy's now until Monday, May 5. The discount is 10% on electrics, technology, furniture, mattresses, and area rugs. Get the coupon here. Online use code MACYSFF.

I blogged about this discount a few days ago but you had to go to the Topanga store. Now everyone can use it. This coupon also makes for killer savings on wedding presents!

Caveats: cannot be combined with other discounts, excludes cosmetics, fragrances, Everyday Values, Tempur-Pedic, gift cards, services, restaurants, special orders and wine. Thanks, Kay!

I got such a good response from my Sunday story about trimming household spending that I decided to let y'all know how my saving plan is going. Hubby and I made a long list of our expenses, highlighted categories where we can spend less, and made a to do list to trim out bills. I followed through on one of them and made $70 in 7 minutes!!! No joke.

Hubby and I pay $28.15 a month for the Sunday New York Times. That is just over $7 a paper. Yikes! I called the Times to see if they could extend a discount to a longtime loyal reader. No such luck, the lady on the other end politely informed me. But I can already read the sections I like online, I pointed out. No deal, she said. But I can probably get the paper cheaper off the newsstand, I protested. Can't help you, she said.

By this point I had convinced myself to cancel the paper, which is what I told her. Hold on a second...oh my supervisor has approved a 50% off deal for 16 weeks, plus an additional 4 weeks if you pay by credit card. Kaa-zam!!

My bill drops to $70.35 for 20 weeks, down from $140.74. I hope we save as much with the other items on our to do list.

+Call cable company and ask for $10 off a month, we had the discount our first year of service and are considering switching companies

+Look for cell phone plan with fewer minutes but more texts to fit with our usage patterns

+Reduce gasoline bill by working from home more and carpooling

+Don't risk parking tickets, bring change or keep looking for spot

+Shop around for cheaper places to fill generic prescriptions

+Use dry cleaning coupons instead of going to the most convenient place

+When ordering take out, split a dish instead of creating leftovers

Forever21, the cheap chic clothing store, is opening a store at Valencia Town Center. It will be located at the entrance of the atrium court and will be one of the biggest stores in the mall, apparently. I like shopping at Forever21 for affordable, edgy clothing that may go out of style quickly and basic clothing, like white tops, that wear out fast.

Get 30% off the entire Urban Decay line of makeup and beauty products now until tomorrow, April 30, 2008. Use coupon code FFA30. Good online or over the phone (800-784-URBAN). No minimum purchase required.

Reader Michelle wrote in with the code and this recommendation: "They have unique colors for eyeshadows. And in my opinion the best liquid liner there is. Stays on the whole day and does not smudge. Their cosmetics line has an edge when it comes to packaging and they are known for the best eyeshadow primer which is the Urban Decay primer potion. Your eyeshadow will stay on the whole day without creasing or smudging."

They also sell vegan makeup?! Thanks, Michelle!

Get 24 coupons for tools and supplies at Harbor Freight that can be used now until May 3, 2008. A 18 to 24 volt solar charger is $80 (orig $90), a six-piece Pittsburg screwdriver set is $1.29 (orig $6), a 10-pack of 1/8-inch drill bits is $1.39 (orig $3.50), a stud finder is $6.50 (orig $10), and a 22-piece screwdriver bit set is $3 (orig $7). Print the coupons here.

Find a Harbor Freight near you.

Wednesday, April 30 is 31-cent scoop night at Baskin Robbins. It's a stunt to gain publicity for their $100,000 donation to the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation, which, together with the ice creamery, is honoring 31 firefighters from across the nation who have shown an "exemplary commitment to community service."

The cheapo scoop is only from 5 to 10 pm on April 30 and it is for a 2.5 ounce scoop, which is about four gulps of water. But each person can buy 10 mini-scoops. The press release rightly points out that this is a great opportunity to try more than a tiny pink spoonful of wacky flavors. Find a Baskin Robbins near you. Thanks, Judi!

The $600 checks the government is sending out to stimulate the economy will arrive in bank accounts and mailboxes across the country soon. If you are going to spend yours, take advantage of retailers that are offering special discounts tied to the rebate checks. Click here to see when your check will be sent.

Ralphs and Albertsons will add $30, $60 or $120 to a gift card when you exchange your tax refund or economic stimulus check for a gift card. The bonus equals 10 percent of the amount you exchange. The offer starts Friday and lasts through July 31. One per household up to $1,200.

RadioShack gives a 10 percent discount on tabs of $50 or more when you use your stimulus check or tax rebate between May 4 and July 12. The balance will be put on a Vision Silver Prepaid MasterCard that can be used anywhere MasterCard is accepted.

Sears, Kmart, and Land's End offer a 10 percent bonus when you exchange your entire rebate check for gift cards. That means a $600 check nets gift cards worth $660. Bring in your check between May 14 and July 19 to get the deal.

Staples is offering no-interest on purchases over $499 with some exclusions when you use your Staples credit card. Valid April 21 through June 30, 2008. Mention code 31831. Read the fine print at here.

Restoration Hardware is offering $100 off a purchase of $750 or more through Wednesday. Get a voucher here to shop in stores or use code HEMAP804 online or over the phone. You can put off paying for a purchase of $750 for one year with no interest when you use your Restoration Hardware credit card.

If you plan to save your check...

Get 21% off purchases at DiscountOfficeSuppliesy.com today only! An email flyer said there are no exclusions. Use code EMAPR28 in all CAPITAL letters to get the discount. Free delivery on purchases over $50. Unopened software can be returned within 5 days, products can be returned within 30 days. Read the full return policy here.

Caveats: excludes shipping and handling, cannot be combined with any other offer, coupons, or discounts, not valid on previous purchases, one per customer.

Get 20% off one full priced item at J.Jill online or over the phone now until May 30, 2008. If you have the coupon from the May issue of Real Simple you can get the discount in stores, too. Online or over the phone (800-642-9989) use code RLS048. I'm guessing the fourth character is a zero and not an "o."

Caveats: not valid in J.Jill outlets, one per person, cannot be combined with other offers except Take 5, not valid on gift cards, past purchases, shipping or tax.

Get $3.50 off an order of $10 or more until May 11 OR get free shipping on orders over $25 until May 3 at Ulta Beauty. The offers cannot be combined, unfortunately. For the $3.50 off use promo code 92524. For the free shipping deal use code MOMSHIPSFREE. They suggest fragrances and other gifts for your Mom. Donna Karan's Eau de Toilette is $58 for 1.7 ounces.

Caveats for $3.50 off: excludes salon services, fragrance, hair artistry brands, prestige cosmetics including Bare Escentuals, prestige skincare, GoSmile and T3. Cannot be redeemed for cash or gift cards. Limit one per customer.

Caveats for free shipping: tax and gift cards do not apply towards total, some restrictions.

Buying a flat screen TV is a lot more fun than saving your $600 rebate check, but it won't help your solvency. Think twice, be realistic, and consider these tips from the Wall Street Journal before you head to the electronics store.

+Put the rebate towards credit card debt. "A $600 balance on a credit card with an 18% interest rate costs $108 a year" in interest alone. Debt at these rates is not a bargain.

+Start or add to a retirement account or IRA. Max out the limit you can contribute to the retirement plan at your work. Or, if your job does not offer one, start an IRA. "IRA accounts grow tax-deferred, allowing you to earn interest tax-free," the story says.

+Set up a 529 college savings account. The money grows tax free if used for education.

+Create a health savings account. If you are eligible, you can pay for out of pocket medical expenses like co-pays and prescriptions with pretax dollars. There are some limits to how much you can put into the account. Some let you rollover a remaining balance to the next year, others do not.

I like to read the critical shopper stories that come out every Thursday in the Style section of the New York Times. They are written by Mike Albo or Cintra Wilson, but Albo does a better job. Each piece describes what a store sells within the consumer and fashion culture that surrounds the establishment and its followers. They usually toss in a healthy dose of the retail building's history to satisfy the paper's uber-informed tone.

The critical shopper from last week has Albo's take on our little consumer fairyland that is The Grove. It is hard to hate the convenient cluster of shops - with music! and a trolley! and a little patch of grass! - but at the same time the place is kind of weird.

Albo writes: The first time you go to the Grove, the immensely successful and completely fabricated commercial center in Los Angeles, you will try to hate it. But then you will watch the old-fashioned trolley passing by, or the dancing fountain as it splurts jovially to the cadence of a Sinatra song, and you will drop your snobby urban integrity and walk around consuming things in a mouth-breathing stupor just like everyone else.

“You want to hate the Grove, but you just can’t,” one Angeleno friend said.

“The first rule of L.A. is to stop hating the Grove,” another said.

“You have to go to the Grove!” everyone else gushed. Keep reading.

Here is a Web site that helps you find the best bank for your needs. At FindABetterBank.com you enter your zip code, then rank 12 account features as things you either don't care about, would like to have, or must have. Answer a handful of questions about what fees usually snag you, then sort through the results it spits out. It took me about three minutes to go through the process.

You can rank the results by estimated annual fees (the Web site guesses what you pay according to the info you shared), the percentage of preferred features you ranked or proximity. The results also detail each bank's features, fees, and savings account rates. The site was started by two guys, one with a finance background and one a techie. Their premise was that it is too difficult for people to switch banks and that if the process were easier the better banks would rise to the top.

People have such different needs I do not think there is one "best" bank, but certainly this site can help you find one that suits your lifestyle. Read more about how the site works.

Free cone day is tomorrow, Tuesday, April 29, at Ben & Jerry's in celebration of the chain's 30th anniversary. I went last year and there was no line and the server was very pleasant. If I recall correctly, you could get any flavor in a regular cone or cup and the scoop was a normal size. Find a B&J near you.

If you miss this freebie or crave more ice cream (who doesn't?), check out 31-cent night at Baskin Robbins on Wednesday, April 30. More details tomorrow!

If you read my Sunday story on making a household budget and are looking for the blank budget worksheet, you are in the right place! Download it by clicking here. Note, you need Excel to open this document. The form automatically sums your expenditures, but you may need to add line items for categories not already listed, like Internet connection fees.

Good luck filling it out! It is tough to figure out where every penny is going, but you must know this to get control of your cash flow. Once you have that under tabs, it is a mental wrestling match with your inner spending beast!

Thanks to Rebecca Robins, a CFP in Stevenson Ranch, who agreed to let me share this document with Bargain Hunter readers.

The one day home sale at Bloomingdale's is Saturday, April 26, but it really starts today during "preview day." Select items in linens, housewares, furniture, mattresses, luggage, bed and bath are 25 to 75% off. Ralph Loren towels are $5 to $16 (orig $8 to $27), a 4.5 quart Kitchen Aid, above is $200 (orig $350).

Browse all the sale categories here. Sale is in stores and online. Thanks, Sarah!

Tipsy shoppers are helping boost Internet sales, a story from the LA Times says.
"BUIs -- those who buy under the influence -- may be the Internet's dirty little secret," the story says. "(Then again, how dirty can you feel when you wake up spooning your keyboard?) And with retail e-commerce up 19% to $136.4 billion in 2007, according to the U.S. Department of Commerce, it's not shocking to realize that some people are boozing and browsing."

Makes sense. A few drinks and that sizzling dress on your screen does not seem like such a stretch. And gosh dang it, I deserve it! Hiccup. But I disagree with the last sentiment in the story - that online shopping is the one thing you can do while drunk that you won't regret. You may be able to return a mistake, but you will probably have to pay shipping and/or a restocking fee. Plus there's the whole hassle of it.

Get 15% off your purchase at Footlocker.com using code LKS18M15. I'm told it has very few exclusions. A sleeveless Kobe Bryant jersey is $45 before the discount.

Browse women's clothing and shoes, stuff for men, and kids gear and apparel. Fan gear here.

Caveats: online only. Unclear when the code expires.

Get $15 off a purchase of $30 or off $75 at Express and Express Men stores now through April 27, 2008. Print the coupon here.

Caveats: one per customer, excludes jewelry and hair accessories, redlined merchandise, or past purchases. Find a store near you.

Get 70% off restaurant gift certificates at Restaurant.com for a limited time. Enter code GOURMET after you have added the certificate to your basket. The certificates are for specific restaurants and often come with a detailed set of rules you have to follow to redeem the certificate. At Il Paradiso Ristorante in Encino, a $25 certificate goes for $3 with the code, but to use it you must order a minimum food purchase of $35, excluding alcohol/beverages. Dine in only. They automatically add 18% gratuity. I've seen other certificates that limit days and times you can use them. The certificates are a good deal, but run the numbers to see how much you are actually saving before buying.

Take the deal above. Say you order $35 worth of food, no drinks. You pay $13 for the grub ($3 certificate plus $10), plus a $6.30 tip (that's 18% on the original bill of $35) plus $3 in tax. The total comes to $22.30 for the $35 meal. You save 36%, not bad, but nowhere near the 70% discount that you started with.

Hi folks, just wanted to let you know the techies at the Daily News are changing the blogs Monday afternoon so there will be no new posts during the then. They say it will take two hours but my guess is a lot longer. I will do my best to get out the daily digest before the freeze but if I don't please check the site to see all the new deals. Hope to be back to normal Tuesday. Thank you for reading the Bargain Hunter and sending me tips! ~Julia

If a weak dollar has not dissuaded you from venturing abroad, take advantage of this offer to lock in a hotel rate in US dollars at two Paris hotels. Basically, you pay the equivalent of whatever $300USD is in Euros the day you check out at Hotel Lutetia or $360USD at Hotel du Louvre. So if the dollar falls, you pay fewer Euros. If the dollar climbs, you pay more Euros. The bottom line is you pay however many Euros equals $300USD, plus bank fees, on the day you check out. Book now for stays between July 11 and August 31 to guarantee these rates.

On hotels.com Hotel Lutetia is booking for $398 a night. Hotel du Louvre is booking for $430 a night. Caveats: valid only for North American citizens (they check passports at check in), subject to availability.

Get 20% off at almost everything at Macy's starting next week, April 30, through May 5. To get the deal call Loren Bennett at (818) 883-7211, hit 1, then extension 2941. She is a personal shopper at the Macy's in the Topanga mall and you can make an appointment with her to shop or tell her you prefer to shop alone and just want to pick up the coupon. She can't email it, unfortunately.

Loren says there are many perks if you shop with her, such as private dressing rooms and private check out. She will pull stuff off the rack before you even get to the store and you can email her requests. Her services are free and there is no obligation to buy. But again, if you prefer to shop alone that's okay, she said.

Caveats: the discount excludes cosmetics, fragrances and everyday values (they have prices that end in .98). I asked if specific brands were excluded and she said no. Thanks, Jen!

A friend balked at paying $20 per cell phone accessory at the phone store and instead turned to CellularFactory.com, which has lower prices than what you typically see in a cell phone store. A $20 phone clip in the store was $3 online and $15 earbuds were $2, he said. For a grand total of $12 he got all the cell accessories he and his wife desired.

But is the site cheaper than the bargain basement otherwise known as Amazon.com? Well folks, it is hard to tell. I tried to compare the prices of several items and they are labeled differently on the two sites so it was difficult to do an exact comparison. I recommend checking both sites to find what you want at the best price.

Cellulary Factory has $4 shipping or free shipping on orders of $15 or more with coupon freeship (unclear when this expires). Returns are accepted within 10 days of receipt as long as it is unused. A 15% restocking fee applies. Read the full policy here. Thanks, Chris!

Check out the sale going on at Urban Outfitters, where prices are up to 50% off. A super cute silver doctor's bag purse is $40 (orig $68). Tons of men's T-shirts are $10 to $20, like this light pink outlaw astronaut shirt for $10 (orig $38). There are pages and pages of women's dresses marked down, like this simple white cotton dress that looks super versatile, for $30 (orig $58). A tiny leprechaun pet hat, above, is $4 (orig $8). Browse other sale categories: women's shoes, men's accessories, men's shoes, and home furnishings.

The family and friends sale at Cost Plus World Market is April 24 to 27, 2008. Get 25% off store wide and 10% off gourmet food and beverages. Use this printable coupon for in store shopping or code FFAPRIL online.

Caveats: excludes alcohol, gift cards, prior purchases, cannot be combined with other coupons or discounts. Find a Cost Plus near you.

Get super discounted rates on more than 20 magazines, including Entertainment Weekly, InStyle, and Sports Illustrated, through this Time Warner friends and family deal. Expires June 22, 2008. I found their prices to be lower than Magazine.com. Entertainment Weekly is $20 for 28 issues versus $10 for 57 issues with the Time Warner discount. InStyle is $24 for 12 issues versus $20 for 13 issues and Sports Illustrated is $20 for 28 issues versus $38 for 56 issues at Time Warner.

Caveats: no more than five magazines per household will be processed, valid for new subscriptions only.

I have received a lot of calls from readers having a hard time finding the site. Yikes! The site is up and running so I'm guessing you mistyped a character in the Web address. Just one wrong letter or punctuation mark will send you who knows where!

I try to answer all the emails and calls I receive about the site, but here is one tip that will take you far. Once you do reach the Bargain Hunter site, bookmark it by pressing and holding CTRL and the D button. On some browsers bookmarks are called Favorites. Next time you want to save a buck, just click on the bookmark/favorites tab at the upper left of your window and scroll down until you see Bargain Hunter. No need to type in www...

Hope that helps! ~Julia

The Web site TravelZoo has the low down on how to get discounts at nine Vegas shows, including Spamalot, Tony and Tina's Wedding, Cirque du Soleil and Mamma Mia. The discounts range from $10 off to 50% off! This page explains it all and has links to how to get the deal for each show. If you are headed to Vegas, don't delay because discounted tickets like these will not last.

Shop at Buck-a-Roo$ with nine friends and everyone gets 10% off their purchases. The host of the party gets 15% of the group's tab (after the 10%) back in cash, according to this flyer. Wow! It's kind of like a Tupperware party at a grocery/supply store. The discount store is in Van Nuys and carries everything from pasta to shorts and yard supplies. Read more about the store in my blog post from last month.

To book a shopping party call Erin Mahoney at (818) 758-6500 x 33. She will arrange a date and time for your group to shop so the manager knows you are coming. The store tracks how much your group spends by giving everyone a five-digit code. There is no minimum purchase. Locations in Van Nuys, Bellflower and Pico Rivera.

Note, shopping in groups can lead to buying more because you see a friend get something and you feel you should have it too. But don't give in! Make a list beforehand and stick to it.

Get 25% off one item at Barnes & Noble stores now until April 28, 2008. Use this printable coupon to get the deal. The chain is having a DVD sale with thousands of items 40% off. Eligible items are marked "DVD sale" Find a store near you.

Caveats: not valid online, at B&N College Bookstores, on gift cards, memberships, past purchases, textbooks. Cannot be combined with other offers. Coupon photocopies not valid. Thanks, Linda!

Free shipping with no minimum purchase ends today, April 23, at EddieBauer.com. Use code APRILSHIP to get the deal. Read the fine print here.

Caveats: still have to pay $3 handling, not valid on clearance items, in stores, past or pending purchases, taxes, gift cards, or monogramming.

Looking to unload a bauble given to you by Mr. Wrong? Head to exboyfriendjewelry.com to sell or buy. Listing an item requires you to tell the story behind it. The scoop on a pair of peridot and pearl earrings, for $45, is "I don't want to talk about it!" The seller of a gold necklace with the word angel in cursive, for $50, provides more details. "This guy tried to bribe me to sleep with him with this necklace." Somehow I don't think it worked.

There are more than 100 pieces listed in eight categories, including a section for gifts that should have been jewelry. Prices range from $10 to several thousand. The NY Times profiles the site here.

This is one deal that pays if you teach. J.Crew now offers 15% off your total purchase in stores when you show teacher identification. Good on regular and sale merchandise. If you are not a teacher, shop with one and reimburse him/her! I love their huge selection of flats and their girly yet sophisticated clothes, like this pink and white waverly jacket, above. It is $168, unfortunately.

Caveats: in stores only, excludes factory stores, cannot be combined with other special discounts or promotions or applied to alterations, previous purchases or to the purchase of gift cards. Offer lasts indefinitely. Find a store near you.

The northern Italian restaurant Cafe Carolina in Encino is offering a special five-course meal and lecture for $36 this Monday at 6:30 p.m. RSVP required. The meal includes antipasti, salad, fish, ravioli, chicken, and dessert. Portions are two to three ounces because there are so many courses. BYOB with no corkage fee. The $36 does not include tax or tip. Read the menu here.

The dinner is part of the restaurant's food appreciation series. UCLA emeritus professor Henry Ansgar Kelly will talk about why Valentine's Day should be celebrated in May, not February, during the meal. The restaurant seats 29 and there are only a few spots left. RSVP at (818) 881-8600.

Visit them at 17934 Ventura Blvd. between White Oak and LIndley in Encino. They are usually only open Tuesday thru Sunday, 5:30 to 10 p.m. Thanks, Alyse!

Back by popular demand...At first blush this does not sound like a bargain: dinner for two for $99? But my well heeled colleague tells me at a "prime steakhouse, this is a good deal." Each person gets a single cut steak filet, a choice of jumbo shrimp, crab cakes or broiled scallops, a Cesar or Morton's salad, hot chocolate cake or key lime pie, and to share a potato and vegetable.

It is available through June 30, 2008 when you share your name, address and email here. They e-mail you a certificate, which you need to get the special meal. It is not on the menu. Participating locations include restaurants in Woodland Hills, Burbank, and downtown LA. Scroll down on the above link to check other regions and states.

Caveats: does not include tax or tip. Thanks, Greg!

This Scholastic book sale is for school employees, school district personnel, registered home schoolers, and book fair chair people and volunteers. If you are one of those, sign up to get into warehouse sales in Thousand Oaks and Culver City. Register your name and password and I'm told Scholastic will send you a Fast-Cart Pass along with a $10 off coupon. Find a sale in a different state and read more about their warehouse sales here. Thanks, Jen!

Hubby had the crazy idea to go to the Grilled Cheese Invitational Saturday in Griffith Park. I am often slow to appreciate his vision, but this one hit me pretty quick. All you can eat grilled cheese? Free? Yessssssss.

More than 100 grillers came to compete in four categories. Missionary (white bread, yellow cheese, butter), Spoons (any bread, any cheese, butter), Kama Sutra (anything goes), and Honey Pot (dessert). Each treat came with a ballot and voting was mandatory. The criteria were taste, presentation, wessonality (was it special? not cheesy enough? inspirational?) and weirdness factor. Hundreds of hungry tasters, including me and Hubby, lined a curve of tables four deep, hoping to get a sandwich to taste.

Everybody quickly realized that tasters far outnumbered sandwiches, which made the grillers picky about who they handed their carefully made treats to. The crowd hollered for the greasy bites, chanted "we want cheese," and pounded the tables. I was good at pushing to the front and making noise so I got to taste six different sandwiches, plus I had a freebie from a Kraft booth that was not part of the competition but was giving out free sandwiches all night. That's a lot of cheese.

My favorite was a marble cheese sandwich served on marble rye bread. It was hot, crispy, cheesy and so flavorful. A second close was Hubby's smores dessert sandwich made with chocolate cheese and marzipan. The worst was a sandwich with ricotta cheese and pumpkin filling that was trying to impersonate pumpkin cheesecake. Blech! The strangest was a huge sammy with a thick layer of blue cheese and peanut brittle, topped with a dollop of honey comb. At every bite I asked myself "Whaaa?" and then had a little bit more. Read who won here.

A few grocery stores are giving away reusable shopping bags today in observance of Earth Day, KTLA reports. The California Grocers Association and the city of Los Angeles "are teaming up to give away about 50,000 bags at about 40 grocery stores to encourage consumers to use reusable bags." One bag per customer while supplies last. The deal started yesterday so best to call first to see if any are left. Participating grocery stores include:

+ Albertsons: 9022 Balboa St. in Northridge; 6240 Foothill Blvd in Tujunga; 7224 Mason Ave. in Canoga Park;and 7227 Van Nuys Blvd., Van Nuys.

+ El Super at 12727 Sherman Way in North Hollywood and 14620 Parthenia St. in Panorama City.

+ Ralphs at 4760 W. Pico Blvd., Los Angeles; 12057 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles; 19871 Rinaldi St., Northridge; 1050 N. Western, San Pedro; 21909 Ventura Blvd., Woodland Hills; 10901 Ventura Blvd., Studio City; 10861 Le Conte Ave., Westwood; 14049 Ventura Blvd., Sherman Oaks; 17250 Saticoy St., Van Nuys; 10400 N. Sepulveda Blvd., Mission Hills; and 645 W. Ninth St., Los Angeles.

+ Superior Super Warehouse at 6140 Lankershim Blvd. in North Hollywood; 9801 N. Laurel Canyon in Pacoima.

+ Valu Plus Food Warehouse at 6820 De Soto Ave. in Canoga Park.

+ Vons at 20440 Devonshire St. in Chatsworth; 7311 N. Figueroa St. in Eagle Rock; 7789 Foothill Blvd. in Tujunga; and 10321 Sepulveda Blvd., Mission Hills.

There are many places where senior citizens get automatic discounts when they join free loyalty programs.

Longs Drugs has a senior advantage card that gives 10% off Long's branded products, Hallmark products, and Long's photo processing everyday. The big caveat with their card is that the items must be regular priced. Sale items are not eligible for the discount, which means the sale price might be lower than what the 10% would give you. Must be 55 or older to qualify. Have questions? Call Long's customer service number at 800-865-6647.

Rite Aid gives 10% off Rite Aid brand products everyday, 10% off certain items every Tuesday and 10% off cash prescriptions with the living more card. Must be 60 or older to join. Sign up in stores or online. Note, the 10% off does not apply to sale items, prescriptions, prescription co-payments, cigarettes, alcohol, gift certificates, lottery tickets, licenses, money orders, money transfers, prepaid cards, stamps and other mailing services, and in-store clinics.

CVS and Walgreens never got back to me, unfortunately. For more senior deals check the Web site Senior Discounts. Thanks, Richard!

A few stores on Ventura in Tarzana are having a joint parking lot sale today, tomorrow and Wednesday from 11 to 5, April 22 to 24. A flyer for the sale said there will be clothing, shoes, makeup, gifts, decorative accessories and eye wear on sale from 30 to 70% off. The sale is in the rear parking lot. Participating stores include Oriyan Shoes, Optical Time, Janette Mallory Home Furnishings, Skin, and Alexander/Harrison.

Visit them at 18641 Ventura Blvd between Reseda and Burbank in Tarzana.

Priceline.com is celebrating its 10th anniversary by reducing 23,000 hotel booking fees on it's site. Book by May 18 to get the deal. Truth be told, I had a hard time finding where the discount was. I checked three hotels at Half Moon Bay and the prices did not drop when I clicked through, as the site advertised. Maybe I am missing something. Hope it works for you!

If you can't find a deal, especially one from Monday's column, it may be because newer posts have pushed down the item you are looking for. But none of the deals go away, you just have to look a little harder.

Try using the search box on the left. It's under where you enter your email to sign up for the daily digest. Enter a keyword (like Morton to find the steakhouse deal), click "Search the blog." All the blog posts with that word will come up.

Good luck!
~Julia

The tech staff is making some changes to the blogs that are resulting in a lot of slow downs. I'm told it should be cleared up in a few days (knock on wood) so please stick with me while it gets sorted out. Thanks, Julia

With a spate of real and possible retailer bankruptcies, it is wise not to hold onto your gift cards too long, according to a Wall Street Journal story. "The economic downturn is expected to lead more retailers to file for bankruptcy-law protection, in which case their gift cards may become worthless or harder to redeem," the story says.

Think Sharper Image (which started re-accepting gift cards but with a lot of rules) and Levitz Furniture (which suggested folks with gift cards file a claim in bankruptcy court). Fortunoff, Harvey Electronics and Lillian Vernon have "made bankruptcy-law filings" but say they will continue to honor gift cards. Guess it's time to use that Pottery Barn card!

Get 12% off at Staples during customer appreciation week, April 20 to 26. In stores only. Print the coupon here.

Caveats: not good on personal computers, laptops, gift cards, phone cards, and postage stamps. Not valid online. Find a Staples near you.

The owner of Yozen Frogurt, a newish seller of tasty treats in West Hills and Thousand Oaks, got such a good response from my post about the store last week that she decided to offer two coupons to Bargain Hunter readers. Yea! You might have seen similar deals in Clipper Magazine, which can be difficult to get a hold of.

The first coupon is for a buy one get one free for 4, 6, or 8 oz portions. The second is for 50% off a quart of frozen yogurt when you buy a second quart. Both expire May 31, 2008.

Caveats: cannot be combined with other coupons. Visit them at 6450 Platt Ave in the Platt Village strip mall in West Hills. (818) 887-8511. They also have a store at 2416 East Thousand Oaks Blvd in Thousand Oaks. Thanks, Karin!

WalMart is giving away 1 million reusable bags tomorrow, April 19, 2008 starting at 8am. With about 3,500 stores in the United States that means about 285 bags per store. Call to double check your nearest store is participating and to confirm what time they will start the giveaway. Find a store near you.

Get $5 off a purchase of $25 or more at Toys R Us today and tomorrow only (April 18 and 19, 2008). Some exclusions. Need to have the original coupon (no copies) in stores. Online use code 921362.

The floating planet Saturn, above, is way expensive at $400 but looks like a ton of fun. You stand on a ring around a giant ball and try to climb to the top while it tilts this way and that. One wrong move and you'll fall into the water! Great for kids who already know how to swim. More water toys here.

Caveats: can't be used on diapers, formula, video game hardware, phone orders, special orders, past purchases, gift cards, Kiddie Kandids, Motherhood Maternity, and buyer protection plan. Find a store near you.

Get five yummy smelling liquid soaps and lotions from Bath & Body Works for $25 for a limited time. Some are priced at $11 each so technically you could save as much as $30. There are 132 items to choose from that are part of the promotion so you won't lack for a variety of girly scented goop. Smell like the freshly picked flower of your choice!

Look for other sales and package deals on the left side of this link. Unclear if the sale is also in stores. Shipping is free on tabs of $65 or more with code SENDFREE65.

Pottery Barn has 1000 sale items up to 50% off during it's "secret" sale. (They tell everyone else Monday.) Sale includes furniture, lighting, dishes, accessories, and linens. A honey-colored Valencia sleigh bed, above, is $900-$1,000 (orig $1,000 to $1,100). A pinboard scrapbook is $60 (orig $100) and paper refills are $10 (orig $20). A glass decanter is $20 (orig $30).

Don't forget to check out their clearance items, which have been marked down up to 75%. Unclear how long sale lasts or if it is also in stores. Thanks, Sarah!

Get 20% off at Babystyle with some brand exceptions now until Sunday, April 20, 2008. Good online, in stores, and at Cadeau Maternity. Print out the email here to get the discount. Online use code FRIEND2008 during checkout.

Caveats: not valid at their stores in Mission Viejo, CA; Farmington, CT; Garden City, NY; Austin, TX; or Plano, TX, cannot be combined with other promotions or discounts; no more than one coupon can apply per order. Cannot be used for gift certificates or costumes. No rain checks on out of stock items.

The following brands are excluded: Baby Jogger Company, Britax, Bugaboo, Maclaren, Maxi-Cosi, Mustela, Medela, Orbit, Peg Perego, Quinny, Stokke and Storksak or other products marked non-discountable in their product descriptions.

Through Sunday, April 20, 2008 get $10 off a $20 purchase or $20 off a $75 purchase at Express or Express Men stores. Print the coupon here. Photocopies of the coupon will not be accepted.

Caveats: one per customer, not valid on redlined merchandise, jewelry, hair accessories, or gift cards. Cannot be combined with other coupons, or on past purchases. Find an Express near you.

Get a 10-day free gym membership to Bally Total Fitness or 50% off your enrollment fee when you pay with Mastercard. Print the coupon here. Offer good through July 31, 2008.

Caveats: must be 18 years or older, register at the club, take a tour and listen to a presentation before getting the 10-day freebie. Limit one per person. Many rules for the discounted enrollment fee. Scroll down this link to read them. Find a Bally's near you.

The $10 coupon book from the Wildlife Way Station in Angeles National Forest has some good discounts in the San Fernando Valley. Mostly buy one get one free offers for food with a few merchant and entertainment discounts.

Discounts include two-for-ones at Baskin Robbins, Domino's Pizza, Yum Yum Donuts, Subway, Falafel Palace, Marmalade Cafe, Casa de Carlos, QDobas, Pizza Cookery, Sid's Seafood (up to $20), and Shalimar Cuisine of India. Entertainment discounts include various offers for Knotts Berry Farm, Ultrazone Laser Tag, Skateland and the Aquarium of the Pacific. Merchant discounts include coupons for Three Dog Bakery, Big 5 Sporting Goods, Baklava Factory, a bunch of car washes, and EZ Lube. There are 101 coupons total.

The coupons are good until Dec 30, 2009. And that's not a typo. Non-profits like Girl Scout troops, public schools, Kiwanis and Lion's clubs, and religious groups sell the books for $10. The WWS and the non-profit selling them split the proceeds. Call the non-profit group you would like to support to see if they are selling them or buy it directly from the WWS by calling Bruce at (800) 345-6371 or emailing a request to Bruce@thekuhngroup.com. I'm told books for Santa Clarita Valley and Orange County are coming in 3+ months.

Note, this is different than the Entertainment book. The WWS takes in wild and exotic animal that need a home and places (most of them) in zoos or animal parks. Thanks, Frank!

This weekend, April 19 and 20, 2008, OSH is paying your sales tax. That means you get a 7.6% discount on everything (if I did my math right).

I like OSH because they have a generous return policy for plants. If it dies you bring it back with your receipt and you can exchange it or get store credit. Their customer service is good, too. I returned a broken spritzer that was probably six months old without the receipt and they gave us full credit. Find an OSH near you. Thanks, Eric!

Get $20 off a car rental of five days or more at Alamo. Deal is good for cars picked up by June 30, 2008 so keep this in mind for summer travel. Model can be a compact up to luxury, minivan, SUV or convertible. Use coupon code AD1336ADK.

Caveats: U.S. rentals only, 28-day maximum rental, some blackout dates, cannot be combined with other discounts or coupons.

If you have an electronic gadget to recycle that doesn't fit into the freebie envelopes I blogged about yesterday, check out My Green Electronics. The site lets you search for places to recycle your gadgets by zip code. For each place it gives you the address, phone number, email, and the products they accept. No prices are listed, but don't assume that means it is free.

You can also find "green" electronics (they are Energy Star certified) to buy and calculate the monthly and yearly cost of plugging in all your handy devices with their green calculator. My monthly cost came to $4.75 and my yearly cost added up to $56.59. By far the biggest energy sucker is our standalone DVR, which we keep plugged in despite having put our TV in the closet! Sigh. It's time to unplug it, Hubby.

Today, April 17, 2008, participating Southern California Carl's Jr. restaurants will give you a free western bacon cheeseburger when you buy a western bacon cheeseburger. It's part of a stunt to promote Carl's claim that Jack in the Box is trying to duplicate the western bacon cheeseburger. Right, because the concept of a western bacon cheeseburger is soooo original that nobody else can have one. But hey, food that is so heavily discounted it feels free is cheaper than full price. You can redeem the coupon today or save it for another day.

Caveats: One per customer. Find a Carl's Jr. near you by entering your zip code into the box at the upper left corner of this link.

While waiting in line at the post office yesterday to mail in my taxes - yes, I'm a big fat procrastinator - I spotted a cardboard box dispensing small plastic envelopes that you can use to recycle cell phones, PDAs, MP3 players, digital cameras, ink jet cartridges and other small electronics. Seal your expired gadget in the envelope and send it off at no charge. An electronics recycling firm called Clover Technologies Group pays for the postage.

USPS started the program last month and is testing it out in 10 cities, including LA. If it's successful they'll take it nationwide. You can take as many of the envelopes as you like.

On the subject of taxes, here is a funny joke I spotted in yesterday's paper. It is from Mark Parisi's "Off the mark" cartoon. A man is looking at his computer screen that asks "How much jail time are you willing to serve? +0-1 years, 2-3 years, 3-4 years, 4-5 years?" The caption below reads "Gilbert reaches a pivotal moment on his tax preparation software." The thought of evading taxes did not cross my mind even though Hubby and I got slammed this year, but for a split second while looking at the numbers I had a smidgen of understanding for those who do. Then I sighed and pulled out my checkbook.

Keep your eyes peeled for big sales at Linens -n- Things. The home furnishings store, and a major rival of Bed, Bath & Beyond, may file for bankruptcy, according to a New York Times story.

Could this mean an end to the reams of 20% off coupons both stores send in the mail? BBB and LNT accept each others coupons and take ones that have already expired. But if LNT does not survive, BBB won't have to worry about competition and may change its coupon policies. So even if you think you have an endless supply of those 20% off coupons, keep saving them. They may come in handy down the line (unless BBB starts honoring the expiration date). Thanks, SCRS!

The Simply Vera by Vera Wang collection is 25 to 55% off at Kohl's. A dual wire headband is $6 (orig $10). Square sunglasses with a "mod" look are $21 (orig $30).

A lavender chemise, above, for $24 (orig $34) looks comfortable enough to sleep in and cute enough to persuade your bedmate to give you a backrub. A sleeveless white shirt with pleats and a belt is $36 (orig $48). Unclear how long the sale lasts or if it is also in stores. Find a store near you.

Get 20 to 25% off at Banana Republic online and in stores until April 20, 2008. Get $20 when you spend $100, $30 when you spend $150, or $50 when you spend $200 (the biggest discount, at 25% back). Online use code SAVEMORE or print this coupon for in store shopping.

A short sleeve mini-dot dress, above, is $130 and comes in white dots on black or brown dots on white. These days many clothing retailers list complimentary items so you can buy the entire outfit in a few easy clicks. Unfortunately, the dollar signs really add up! With the mini dot dress they suggest a black wedge espadrille ($98), a rattan satchel ($178) and a chain necklace ($59). Chances are you already have a pair of black sandals, a necklace that goes with a V-neck, and a summery purse. If you are on a budget, resist buying the entire outfit (here $465) and instead use their suggestions as ideas for what to pull out of your closet.

Caveats: coupon excludes monogram collection, gift cards, packaging, taxes, shipping and handling. Cannot be combined with any other offers or discounts including Gap Inc. employee discount. Find a store near you.

CORRECTION: The sale is NEXT weekend, April 25-27, not this weekend as I originally said.

Kristin Nelson's LA Kids Consignment sale comes to the Santa Clarita Valley NEXT weekend. Remember? I blogged about it when the sale was in Van Nuys and a year ago I wrote about it for the paper. Nelson organizes dozens of parents who want to sell their gently used kids stuff, from clothing and toys, to gear and books.

The SCV sale is Friday and Saturday from 9 to 5, and Sunday from 9 to 2 (50% off most items). It is being held at 26346 Ruether Ave. in Santa Clarita. (818) 693-3183.

Creativity Inc, a Van Nuys company that wheels and deals in arts and crafts products, is having a spring clearance sale Saturday, April 19, 2008. The sale is 7 am to noon. The company sells beads, paper crafts, scrap booking materials, storage and organization products and general craft materials. A flyer says they are "cleaning house" but mentions no specific discounts.

Visit them at the Westrim Inc parking lot at 7855 Hayvenhurst Ave. in Van Nuys on the western tip of the Van Nuys Airport.

Caveats: cash and carry only. Thanks, Gregg!

The nickel wine sale is on at Bev Mo! The deal is you buy one bottle of wine and you get a second bottle of that same wine for a nickel. Browse their selection online. Not sure if the sale also includes beer and hard alcohol. I'm told it ends April 20, 2008. Find a store near you.

Nordstrom just added new markdowns of 30 to 35% online, including a sexy black lace dress in petite for $132 (orig $220). A fleece hoodie by Free People, above, is $45 (orig $68) and has pleats to make it roomy in the front.

Browse the new markdowns here, or search bestsellers,
or shop by price. Not sure if the online sale has an in store component.

If you are looking for a cheap source for books and DVDs (other than your local library), check out Bookins.com. The site facilitates book and DVD trades among registered users. It's free to join but costs $4.49 to *receive* each item. They take your credit card number when you join. Sending items is free (the site let's you print postage from home). I'm told there is no tax because it is a trade.

Once you join you make a list of the books and DVDs you want, then the site figures out who has those items to trade and sends them to you. Kind of like how a Netflix queue works. Each item is given a point value, with more popular items worth more points. If you have a 10 point item to trade, you can get two 5 point items, etc. Because items are assigned points you can trade books for DVDs. You can keep the books or DVDs you get or trade them. Read more about how it works.

A reader who uses the site says it is "great for shut-ins as well as others. The site is designed in a really great way, easy to use and print the postage from your computer and printer...I started last June and have sent out 50 books and have received 48 books with 2 in transit. I have 150+ books on my trade list."
Thanks, Luetta!

The KidVantage program at Sears gives perks to those who buy kids clothes at the store. Once you join the program they will replace any kids clothes with the same size if your kid wears a hole in them. So you cannot upgrade to a bigger size as your child grows, but you can swap beaten up threads. I don't think stains count.

Every time you spend $100 on kids or infant clothing or kids or infant shoes you get a coupon for 15% off your next kids or infant apparel purchase. Look for the coupon at the end of your receipt. Not sure when it expires.

Sign up for the program at any Sears' register. Read more about the KidVantage program here.

A new kind of prescription drug plan has patients paying for a percentage of their drug's cost instead of a flat co-pay like $10, according to a New York Times story. The drug plan is called Tier 4. Many Medicare plans have it and now an increasing number of private plans are using it. Only a few drugs are in Tier 4 but they are very expensive, pushing patient co-pays to three or four digits.

"The system means that the burden of expensive health care can now affect insured people, too," the story says. "No one knows how many patients are affected, but hundreds of drugs are priced this new way. They are used to treat diseases that may be fairly common, including multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, hemophilia, hepatitis C and some cancers. There are no cheaper equivalents for these drugs, so patients are forced to pay the price or do without."

It's so hard to believe that the lives of so many are in the hands of bean counters. Even though our government is plagued by inefficiencies, this is a strong argument for universal health care. Read the whole story here, or if you can't log onto the NYT site, click on the first link at the top of this page. If that *still* does not work, email me with a request and I will forward you the story.

Seems like many retailers are timing sales with tax day. If there is a store you love shopping at, today is a good day to check their Web site for sales. Dell is using tax day to kick off 10 days of deals, which change everyday.

An Inspiron 530 with an Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 Processor and 3GB memory, 500GB hard drive, and a19-inch glossy widescreen flat panel monitor is $699 after a $300 discount. An XPS 420 with an Intel Core 2 Quad-Core Processor at 2.4ghz, 3GB memory, a 500GB hard drive, and a 20-inch glossy widescreen is $1049 after $369 in savings.

Dell's final deal of the day is a Dell 22-inch widescreen flat panel monitor with webcam (model SP2208WFP) for $289 after $60 in savings. Note, these sales end today. Check back for the next nine days to see what else they put on sale.

Shoppers who check the total at the bottom of their grocery receipts already know food prices have gone up, but now an Associated Press story lets us know exactly how much we are getting fingered. "The U.S. is wrestling with the worst food inflation in 17 years," the story says. "Food prices rose 4 percent in 2007, compared with an average 2.5 percent annual rise for the last 15 years, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. And the agency says 2008 could be worse, with a rise of as much as 4.5 percent."

Time to start clipping coupons in earnest! If any of you guys have tips or strategies to save money at the grocery store, please share them by clicking on the tiny "Comments" link underneath this post. That way everyone can benefit.

Also, I've heard small grocers and "ethnic" markets often have really great prices on produce. If you have a favorite place send me the name and I'll do my best to check it out. Thanks, Dana!

Tax day hurts, especially if you are paying out instead of taking in. To ease the pain (and get a share of those refund checks), Walgreens is taking 15% off online orders of $50 or more Tuesday, April 15 only. Ends 11:59 p.m. CST. Use coupon code DAY2SAVE.

Caveats: excludes photo, pharmacy, and gift cards. One per account. Does not apply toward taxes or shipping charges.

Kids under 12 eat free at Zanos Pizza Kitchen in Woodland Hills Monday and Tuesday nights between 5 and 9 p.m. No more than two kids per adult. Meal choices include a slice of pepperoni, cheese or veggie pizza OR spaghetti with marinara sauce or butter, and a fountain drink. Dine in only. Caveats: the adult must order $8.50 of food or more.

Sadly, their lunch special rose from $5 to $6. It was the first Lincoln Lunch I ever blogged about and I still return even though it is $1 more. It includes a slice of pizza, side salad, fountain drink with refills and garlic knots.

Visit them at 21604 Ventura Blvd. Woodland Hills. (818) 719-0003.

Furniture and bedding is 20% off at Shabby Chic now until April 27, 2008. You can't buy stuff through the Web site but they do have prices, specs, and upholstery options online. Click on merchandise to see at that stuff. Store locations include Malibu, Santa Monica, Palm Desert and others. Thanks, Jen!

Get free shipping on tabs of $150 or more at Bloomingdale's online now until April 20, 2008. Use code SHIP6 when checking out. Also get 15% off when you use your Bloomingdale's card online only. Ends today and has some limitations.

Caveats: free shipping excludes gift cards, beauty, home, furniture and mattresses. Not valid at Bloomingdale's stores or bloomingdales.weddingchannel.com.

15% off excludes the following brands: Armani, Baccarat, Botkier, Bulga, Burberry, Chanel, Christian Dior, Christofle, Citizens of Humanity, Coach, Diane Von Furstenberg, Fendi, J Brand, John Varvatos, Kooba, Lalique, Lesportsac, Longchamp, M Missoni, All Marc by Marc Jacobs, All Marc Jacobs, Michele Watches, Nanette Lepore, The North Face, Tory Burch, Ugg and William Yeoward.

Get free standard shipping at Target now through April 19, 2008 when you spend $50 in women's, juniors, handbags and accessories, jewelry, shoes, cosmetics and baby gear. Items eligible for the freebie say "free shipping" in red.

Caveats: read the fine print, which also lists other sales at Target.

Get 25% off one item at Barnes & Noble starting tomorrow, April 15, 2008 through Monday, April 21, 2008. Good in stores, but not at college stores or online. Get the printable coupon here and scroll down the above link to see additional coupons for specific books.

Caveats: may only be used once, not good on gift cards, memberships, textbooks, past purchases. May not be combined with any other offer.

Okay, maybe gas is not the *biggest* money suck ever, but it sure feels like it. Last night I paid more than $4 a gallon for the first time - and I'm old enough to remember when gasoline was 50-cents a gallon! I was on my way home after a bike ride/run workout and needed a little more in the tank to get home. The nearest station was so expensive - $4.07 for a gallon of premium (it's what the MINI calls for) - that I only bought one gallon. Later I filled up my tank for $48! It felt like being punched in the face.

People who drive monster SUVs with these prices - are you crazy or rich? I suppose a lot of folks are stuck with their big 'ol cars having bought them years ago when gas was relatively affordable. Anywho, for those of us feeling pinched at the pump, here are some resources and ideas.

Find the best local gas prices at Los Angeles Gas Prices.

Call your HR department for a list of colleagues interested in carpooling or post a note in the lunch room with your route and drive times.

Avoid left turns. It worked for UPS and it can work for you.

Check your tire pressure. Driving on over or under inflated tires makes your car less efficient. Hubby inflated his tires a few months ago and noticed his mileage jumped by about 4 mpg.

Avoid braking. Not that I want you to get into an accident, but driving with a lead foot then slamming on the brakes uses tons of fuel. If you see a red light up ahead, coast. Leave enough space between you and the next car so when they brake you can ease off the gas instead of smashing down your brake.

Pool errands. Consolidating trips will reduce your mileage.

Buy a hybrid. If only! Any more ideas? Leave a comment so everyone can benefit.

For a raunchy take on what gas prices are doing to us click here.

Get an extra 30% off at Babystyle Outlet, which has maternity clothes on sale, baby bargains, and deals on kid's stuff. Cropped leggings for Mom-to-be are $13 (orig $44). A nursing bra is $20 (orig $38) but comes in medium only. A long sleeve baby T-shirt that says "Loading...smart remark" is $12 (orig $22).

The site lets you shop by department, percentage mark down or price. Unclear how long the 30% off sale lasts. Use coupon code ALLOUT30. Note some items are final sale (no returns).

One of my favorite bargain hunters sent me this tip: "The Macy's on South Lake Ave. in Pasadena is closing for remodeling and having a store clearance. Items already on clearance (anything w/ the original price marked down) is now an additional 40% off. Al regular priced items are 30% off. Excludes cosmetics and fragrances." A recorded message for the store says everything is between 25% and 50% off.

Wow, what a deal! It is sure to be a madhouse this weekend, so stop by on your lunch break today or on the way home from work tonight. Not sure when the clearance sale ends or if they have furniture and mattresses. The store will reopen fall 2008.

Visit them at 401 South Lake Ave. in Pasadena. (626) 792-0211. Thanks Kristin!

Hubby loves Yozen Frogurt and he doesn't even like frozen yogurt! He swears it's a great spot for a healthy snack so I told him I would check it out. On my first visit I found the employees very friendly. The girl who was helping me offered extra samples (I had three total) but forgot to tell me about the club card. (Buy eight treats at their shop and get the ninth free.) The pomegranate flavor was perky and tart. I did not like cookies 'n cream but white cloud was even better than its counterpart at Pinkberry.

I settled on tried and true favorites - chocolate mint and vanilla with toffee bits - but later wished I had experimented with the kiwi strawberry, espresso rush, or caramel pecan. It tasted good, but it wasn't overly special and the small serving (8 oz) was too much to finish. I think funkier flavors would have made the difference.

Stopped in one more time because Hubby really couldn't believe I wasn't head over heels about Yozen Frogurt. This time I got three flavors in a smaller cup (junior size, 6 oz). The peanut butter gold was top notch, espresso rush was tasty and kiwi strawberry packed just the right punch. Opted for no toppings because they did not have fresh raspberries. The line was packed with kids and families, but it moved along okay. With my two for one coupon from the Clipper Magazine my friend and I had two treats (hers with two toppings) for $5.15. Not too shabby.

Yelpers give YF the thumbs up. Visit them at 6450 Platt Ave in the Platt Village strip mall in West Hills (818) 887-8511. Their new store is at 2416 East Thousand Oaks Blvd in Thousand Oaks. (805) 230-2401. Note, it can get busy.

Check out the Web site Climate Counts for the skinny on how green major corporations are. Companies get a score from 1 to 100 based on 22 criteria, which you can use to rank the companies you patronize.

So how did local companies do? Yahoo! in Burbank netted 36. LAME-O! Anheuser Busch, which has a brewing plant in Van Nuys, got a 29. PHOOEY! Disney scored 24 points. FLUNK! Also of note, Google gets a miserable 17. EAT MY EGG SALAD! Next to each company's score is a way to e-mail them and let them know you think the climate counts.

The guy behind the site heads Stonyfield Farms, a green dairy company that scored 63. Read more the folks at Climate Counts.

Get $5 off a purchase of $20 or more at Walgreens today, April 11, only. Use this printable coupon to get the discount. Find a Walgreens near you.

Caveats: excludes alcohol, tobacco, gift cards, prescriptions and pre-paid cards.

UPDATE: You must send in your used Target bags in the Newsweek cover. Making an envelope out of other materials will not get you the coupon for a free tote.

PREVIOUSLY: Target and Newsweek are working together to give out free re-usable tote bags. Here's how it works: you mail in your Target plastic bags using the Newsweek magazine cover from their April 14 "Who's the Greenest of them all?" issue and they mail you a coupon for a tote that is made of plastic bags.

No postage needed. You just have to get your hands on the April 14 issue of Newsweek. Come to think of it, you probably don't even need that. Here's the address if you want to send in your plastic Target bags in some other material:

Terracycle
121 New York Ave
Trenton, NJ 08638

Since you can squish the plastic bags so much, mail them in any piece of paper by folding it into an envelope.

Caveats: must be mailed by May 31, 2008. One per household.

Starting Friday, April 11, basic kids tops at H&M are buy one get one free, according to the retailer's April newsletter. Not sure what they mean by "basic." T's only, maybe? Deal lasts until Sunday, April 20. No coupon needed. Find a store near you.

Caveats: selection will vary by store.

Get a free order of Carmen's Nachos when you sit at the "Nacho Table" at El Cholo Mexican restaurant. The eatery has at least one designated "Nacho Table" at each of its four locations. It's the worst table in the house, but it comes with free nachos that would otherwise cost $7.25. To get the deal just ask to be seated at the nacho table.

Caveats: no Valley locations, sadly. But they are in LA, Santa Monica, La Habra, and Irvine. Find an El Cholo near you.

Swimsuit season is upon us pretty much all the time in Los Angeles, but this time of year the itty bitty clothing we wear on the sand gets more attention. Finding a suit that covers just enough can be a challenge. Athleta offers one and two pieces suits that are stylish and modest. A mini sarong has a built in pair of bottoms underneath the skirt and comes in a red/pink or blue/green paisley print. It is $46. Get a matching tankini for $69 or halter for $59.

I also like the Oceanside Short that has an internal brief and comes in a cool underwater garden pattern, above, for $44. A one piece with a scrolling black and white pattern has a built in bra and underwire meant for cup sizes C to DD. It is $84. Many more swim skirts, shorts, one pieces and full coverage bottoms here. Or search by type of suit. Sale swimwear here.

They also have really cute casual dresses and skirts. If only!

Get all kinds of books at steeply discounted prices at SortFloorBooks.com. I didn't have to look hard to find a great book at a super low price. I gave my nephews "No, David!" about two years ago and my sister said they loved to read it. The more trouble David got into, the more excited they got. I paid $17 for it, Sort Floor Books has it for $5.50.

They also have Mitch Albom's "Five People You Meet in Heaven" for $3.50. The same book is selling for $11 at Barnes & Noble.

Browse by categories on the right or search for a specific book on the left. Free media mail shipping on orders over $15. The site says the company is one of the biggest sellers of bargain and remainder books. They sort through millions of leftovers and add more than a thousand books to their inventory everyday. Thanks, Jen!

Signing up at Shop It To Me is one way to let shopping come to you. You tell the site what brands, types of apparel and sizes you are interested in, and they e-mail you daily or weekly with sale items that fit the bill. To get the emails you register on the site with your first name, email and password. Read more about how it works.

There are dozens of brands and items to choose from so it can get a little daunting. My first email had tons of items from online merchants like Piperline, Bloomingdale's, J.Crew, Yoox and Macy's. Every single item in my e-mail was marked down. Check it out if you have the budget, otherwise stay away!

They also have a sister site called Shop it to me Running. I'm in heaven! Thanks, Jen!

Get 15% off at REI.com, plus free shipping if you buy any item from Keen (thru 4/17/08) or Peal Izumi (thru 4/10/08). Use coupon code GHVKM2 for the discount. Not sure when it expires. Online only. I like this Whisper Vest for running or biking, above, for $55 (orig $65). It has pockets for keys, ID, and a bit of cash, plus it's lightweight and reflective. Buy it in "screaming yellow" so that when you pass someone all they will see is a blaze of color.

Get a dozen free original glazed Krispy Kreme donuts when you buy one dozen of their sweet treats at the regular price (I think about $5). Bring in this coupon to get the deal, which expires May 13, 2008. Find a KK near you. Stores in Burbank, LA, Santa Monica, Gardena and Long Beach, among others.

Get a large original or thin crust pizza from Papa John's for $3 when you order two large pizzas online at the regular price (about $12 each). Offer expires April 21, 2008. Use code 40708. Ordering online is easy, I've done it.

Caveats: Pan pizza may be extra. Offer good at participating Papa John's restaurants. Additional toppings extra. Not valid with any other coupons or discounts. Limited delivery area, charges may apply. Find a Papa John's near you.

This iPod is so old it's the one I have! But it is a lot more affordable than current generations and it still plays music. If you need/want video, put more pennies in the piggy bank. Geeks.com is selling a refurbished 40GB fourth generation iPod, above, for $120. Comes with a USB cable and earphones.

The same refurbished iPod is going for $190 at Target. Not sure how long this pricing will last. If you are in the market for an iPod, watch the product tracker on the left column of Mr. Dealio.

The Kid's Consignment 4 You sale at the Ventura County Fairgrounds is this weekend, Friday April 11 to Sunday April 13. The twice yearly sale features gently used clothing, toys, furniture, linens, nursery items, play equipment and books for kids and babies. The sale is run by two guys, a dad and a future-dad, who thought the sale would be a great way for parents to save money. Read about them here.

The sale is in San Nicolas Hall, the "Home Arts" Building at 10 West Harbor Blvd. in Ventura. Hours are Friday 1 to 6, Saturday 9 to 6 and Sunday 9 to 2 with some items half off. They accept cash and credit, but not personal checks. Parking at the fairgrounds is $5 or you can park across the street (Perimeter Roadway) at the 'Surfer's Lot' for $2.

Here are two tips to save money at your wedding, courtesy of cheap chic weddings.

+ Cut back on the number of attendants you have to save on flowers, boutonnières and gifts. Also, less stress from coordinating with fewer folks!

+ Decorate with ribbons. They are loads cheaper than flowers and still look great on sanctuary pews, tablecloths, reception chairs, your cake, and the head table. One way to dress up a room with ribbons is pictured at right.

More tips from CCW and a site where you can buy preowned wedding dresses.

Get $5 off a purchase of $25 or more at TrueValue Hardware now until July 4, 2008. Print the coupon here.

Caveats: one per customer, only at participating stores, may be limited to in-stock items, not valid with other coupons or offers. Find a TrueValue near you.

Register a Starbucks gift card and get these coffee perks at the caffeinated green giant: free syrup and milk options, free refills on brewed drinks, and a free tall drink with a whole bean purchase. Unclear how long these bonus' last. Registering requires you to set up a username, password, share an email address, street address and phone number (I use my work info). It also asks you the city of your birth in case your card is ever stolen.

Offering perks in exchange for personal information is a tactic many big companies use these days. They gather marketing information and build your loyalty by e-mailing you news and deals. It usually seems like a good idea to sign up at the time, but I wonder about the long term costs of getting spam and junk mail.

Another way to save money at Starbucks is to order a ghetto latte. Don't use those words, but ask for a shot of espresso in a tall cup (or supply your own) then fill with free milk from the fixings counter. Thanks, Steve!

If it's not gas, housing, and grocery prices squeezing your budget, it's taxes. Hubby and I are getting hammered by the IRS this year, partly because we sold our condo and can no longer deduct mortgage interest. But we forgot to increase our paycheck withholdings. Ouch!

Short term, we pay the tax man. Mid term - over the next three months or so - we will cut back to recoup the payout, which will likely come from our savings. So where am I cutting back?

+ That girls' getaway to Vegas is gone, baby, gone. SAVINGS: $700
+ Spring facial will have to wait until summer. SAVINGS: $105
+ No new threads. But I do have a $50 JCrew gift card for when I get desperate. SAVINGS: $250
+ Working from home twice a week to cut down on my gas bill. SAVINGS: $50/week
+ Eating in instead of splurging at restaurants with Hubby. SAVINGS: $200
+ Leaving my credit cards at home. SAVINGS: PRICELESS.

That brings my total to $1,305. A good start but not enough to keep the IRS at bay. I could extend the cutback period, but it's awfully hard to keep the belt that tight long term. Any ideas, folks? Email me.

Grocery prices are not cheaper in poor neighborhoods and are sometimes higher priced than in affluent neighborhoods, a story by the Denver Post claims. The paper compared 11 staple items at eight stores, two from each chain. The stores were Safeway (Vons), Wal-Mart, Kmart, and King Soopers.

"Stores that cater more to the lower-income shoppers — many of them recipients of government benefits such as food stamps — on average didn't provide lower prices than stores in areas whose shoppers are better off, the review found. And when differences were noted, they tended to favor the affluent areas, meaning lower-income customers generally paid more for the same bag of groceries purchased closer to home," the story said.

Prices at a store serving food-stamp shoppers could be as much 20 percent higher than a store of the same chain located in an affluent neighborhood. No idea if this trend is also true for Southern California, but something tells me it probably is.

Get $10 off at Steve Madden online when your tab reaches $50 or more. Good on sale and regular priced pairs. I like this simple Lastting sandal that comes in a cute animal print and solid colors, above, for $70. A pair of peep toe pumps with woven leather are $63 (orig $90). Don't think you can combine discounts, but if you join their email list you will get 15% off your next order.

Whimsical, breezy dresses and tops are the name of the game at Puella Clothing, a offering 30% off when you use code DCPUELLA. Unclear how long it lasts. Before the discount a Jersey V-neck dress with a tea rose pattern, above, is $88. Not sure if the discount applies to stuff already on sale, but I think so. Another V-neck dress with bell sleeves and a skirt that falls not too far above the knee is $98 (orig $198).

Get 50% off hundreds of items at Coldwater Creek now until Saturday, April 12. Sale is online only. Before the sale, a ruched tencel jacket in mint green or tan, above, is $79.50. A bright plaid shirt with a tie across the waist is $69.50.

Use offer code WXH3123 or SPRING50 on the billing and shipping page at checkout.

Caveats: applies to in-stock, online items only, discount does not apply to shipping, handling or applicable taxes. Cannot be combined with other Offer Codes and cannot be applied to purchase of gift cards. Offer not valid on purchases from our catalogs, Coldwater Creek stores or Outlet locations. Not valid on previous purchases.

A thrift shop in Van Nuys that is run by the National Council of Jewish Women is having an in-store flea market this Saturday and Sunday, April 12 and 13. The event features the "best of the best special merchandise" including collectibles, furniture, designer clothing, antiques, and jewelry, according to a flyer.

I've not been to the sale so I can't vouch for the selection. They happen four to six times a year at NCJW thrift shops across the region. To find when other locations are having their best of the best sale click here.

The Van Nuys store is at 14526 Victory Blvd. (818) 997-8980.

A gallon of regular gasoline costs $.43 more than it did last year, according to AAA. For someone who fills up a 15 gallon tank once a week, that increase adds up to $333 more per year spent on gas. So where does it come from? Here are five places to pull $333 from your pocketbook.

+ Get a credit cards with benefits. The Chase PerfectCard earns six percent back on gas for the first 90 days and three percent after that. The Capital One No Hassle Miles Rewards for Travel & Gas earns three miles for every dollar you spend on travel and gas purchases, plus one mile per dollar for all other purchases. Miles don't expire.

+ Drive like an old timer. Zipping out of a light burns gas like nobody’s business.

+ Take public transportation. Driving costs about $.54 cents a mile when you factor in maintenance, insurance, registration, and financing, according to the Auto Club of Southern California. That makes a 20-mile commute cost almost $11. A day pass on the Metro is $5. Calculate exactly how much your commute costs you.

+ Brown bag it. Bring your lunch once a week and you will likely save enough to cover a bigger gas tab.

+ Pay cash. Especially when pump prices differ by as much as $.20 a gallon. But remember to factor in surcharges at cash-only stations like Arco.

To balance out these savings tips, here are three common gas myths that do not save you moolah. Premium equals better mileage. Not true, says Marie Montgomery, a spokeswoman for the Auto Club of Southern California. Only buy premium if your owner’s manual calls for it. Morning is the best time to buy gas. State legislators are looking into this, but the myth-busting Web site Snopes.com says any change is minor. Magnets and additives extend mileage. No chance. “Those things are a waste of money,” Montgomery said.

Get a free 12 oz breakfast product at Jamba Juice up until 10 a.m. tomorrow, Tuesday April 8, 2008 only. Deal starts whenever the store opens that day. Sounds like the stores are trying to draw a bigger morning crowd. They are usually busy afternoon on. No coupon needed.

Caveats: valid only at participating Jamba Juice locations (not including Jamba Juice stores operating in airports, universities, Safeway, VONS, Pavilion, Target or on the islands of Hawaii). Breakfast products are limited to Juice, Juicies™, Chunky Strawberry, Granola Toppers™ and Yogurt Blends. Limit one product per customer. Find a Jamba Juice near you.

Note, their site is really slow. Probably because so many people are checking out the freebie.

Buy one pair of shoes and get a second pair half off at Stride Rite now until April 22, 2008. The deal applies only to regular priced shoes, not sale or clearance pairs. The sale is happening at Stride Rite corporate chains, not stores like Macy's that carry their shoes, or independent retailers. Best to call ahead of time. Find a store near you.

Caveats: not good at outlets or online. Cannot be combined with any other special offers, coupons or prior purchases. Offer valid for in-stock merchandise only. Consumer pays all applicable sales tax. Void where prohibited by law.

Get $25 tickets to The Boychick Affair, an interactive comedy show about the bar mitzvah of Harry Boychick, above, who shows up late to his own party. LA Weekly said "The wait for Harry allows the audience to mix freely with the actors in Lord's hilarious interactive comedy about a dysfunctional family. When the bar mitzvah boy finally arrives, we're treated to a rendition of Hebrew prayers set to a rap beat."

The show is every Sunday at 2pm at the The Hayworth theater. Tickets are normally $36. The discount is good for every show in April (except the 20th, which is passover) and May. To get the discount, buy tickets over the phone at (800) 838-3006 and mention the Bargain Hunter discount or buy them online and use code BHD.

Amy Lord, who wrote and performs in the show, is a regular reader. Thanks, Amy!

The Hayworth is at 2511 Wilshire Blvd. in Los Angeles.

It seems everybody has a key product they go to Costco for, be it baby wipes, cheap booze or groceries by the van load. Members insist that shopping at the warehouse is a good deal, but I'm not convinced. Since when is buying a $50 membership for the privilege of overspending a deal?

It's not that I hate Costco. It's that 12 of the 14 cans of tomato sauce I impulsively purchased at the store two years ago are still in my cupboard. Somehow, I don't think I'm alone. Costco's prices are generally lower, but overspending and being unable to eat the massive portions before they go bad could erase those gains. Overall, I wanted to know if shopping at the warehouse store makes sense financially.

For starters, I set out to confirm that Costco's grocery prices are lower. I compared the cost of 22 basic items at Costco to prices at Vons, Trader Joe's and Food 4 Less. I stuck to food items to create a fair comparison to traditional grocery stores.

Costco was the price leader for 12 of the 22 items, including apples, sugar and butter. But when it came to potatoes, bread and cranberry juice, Costco prices where higher. For the full comparison, scroll down and look for the post titled "My Nitty Gritty Grocery List."

Richard Galanti, Costco's chief financial officer, said the supersize store would have done better...

Get one roll of film processed free at Walgreens this Wednesday, April 9 only. One per customer. Get the coupon here. Go early before they are overrun with jobs.

Caveats: film must be 35mm, APS, or one-time use camera only. Offer good on any size roll. Includes one set of 4x6 prints and negatives. Subject to system capacity. Find a Walgreens near you.

Get 15% off already reduced athletic and fashion shoes from Foot Locker. They have basketball, baseball, football, track and casual shoes already marked down 50 to 70% off that you can use the coupon with. A pair of faded gray Hi-tops are $25.50 (orig $40). Browse all the sale shoes here.

Use coupon code LKS18M15 when checking out. Regular priced gear does not seem to be eligible for the discount.

UPDATE: My Nitty Gritty Grocery List now includes the Food 4 Less prices for all 35 items. Shoppers not familiar with Food 4 less may be surprised that for many items the grocery chain bumped Vons and Trader Joe's from being the low price leader, which I mark below in bold.

I totally redid my grocery cheat sheet to list just what I consider a "good" price for each item so you don't have to comb through all three store columns. This way if you can't remember the lowest price you can get for an item, just pull out your cheat sheet and the decision is easy.

Remember, grocery prices fluctuate greatly so you will have to update your own list every few weeks.

PREVIOUSLY: Old school coupon clippers make it seem as if saving 50% off your grocery tab is no big deal. As the Bargain Hunter, I figured it would be a cinch. So for "work" I dug through the Sunday newspaper circulars, surfed the Internet for the best online coupon sites, and looked for coupons everywhere. Was I able to drastically reduce my grocery bill? Check out this Sunday's LA Daily News for the full scoop. In the story I tell readers to come here for a full comparison of prices (my "cheat sheet") at two supermarkets I frequently shop at. So without further ado...

Bolded prices mean that store is the clear price leader. If neither price is bolded it means the item was a draw. Items marked with an * frequently go on sale or have coupons available. Use all your willpower to buy them only at these lowest prices!! And remember, sales and coupons can often tip the price in favor of Vons, which doubles coupons up to $1.

Assume items from Trader Joe's are sold under the private Trader Joe's brand unless otherwise noted. A price range is listed for items from Von's because the chain offers a variety of brands. Lower range prices are often the store's own Safeway brand of food.

Tax time. If you are lucky, someone else (Hubby) does the number crunching and you (me) keep them well fed and on task. When it comes to estimating the value of donated goods, however, you are on your own. The IRS does not set specific values for donated goods, but lets you deduct "fair market value" for items in "good" condition or better.

As Debt-Proof Living warns, "If you estimate too high you could face an audit—with the requirement to prove and authenticate the values you assigned—and penalties if the IRS does not agree with your numbers. But if you value your donations too low, you stand to lose a lot of money you could have recouped."

Luckily, there are a number of pricing guides. The Salvation Army has a Valuation Guide with high and low numbers for dozens of items. Bicycles are $15 to $65, sweaters are $2.50 to $8, a floor lamp is $7.50 to $40.

Yahoo has a similar guide but it does not list as many items. Goodwill also lists a price range for items they sell in their stores, about as fair as fair market gets. A CPA named Jeffrey Campbell from Ohio lists high, low, and average value for many donated items on his personal site. His Web site says he has been a CPA for 15+ years, but his phone number and e-mail are listed if you want to double check.

Debt-Proof Living also recommends the booklet “MONEY-For Your Used Clothing; 2007 Tax Year” which they will sell to you for $20. The site claims the authors guarantee you will save at least $250 using their guide or they will give you your money back. Hmmm...with so many free guides I don't think it makes sense to buy a booklet unless you are really freaked out about a possible audit or have major items to donate and really want to be accurate.

I saw soccer star David Beckham and the LA Galaxy play their season home opener last night and let me tell you, he is just as good looking in person as in the Armani ads. I would have preferred their shorts to be a little bit shorter, as running around with all that extra material must get heavy.

We sat six rows behind the goalpost where Beckham and Landon Donovan (another favorite cutie) scored once each in the first half. Right after Beckham scored he ran towards us and did his signature double knee skid while pumping his fists. Then after Donovan scored Beckham jumped on his back and all the men piled on them. It was quite thrilling.

Check out some pictures of the game.

Find a designer wedding gown at the Glamour Closet sample sale this weekend (in Orange County, unfortunately). The press release
says they have hundreds of dresses by designers like Vera Wang, Monique Lhuillier, Reem Acra, Amsale that are marked down by up to 80%. And no dress is more than $999. Bring the bra and shoes you plan to wear on your big day to find the best fit.

Caveats: dresses come in size 8 or 10. Communal dressing rooms.

The sale is at the Westin South Coast Plaza Hotel, 686 Anton Blvd., Costa Mesa. (714) 540-2500. Hours are Saturday, April 5th from 10 to 5 and Sunday, April 6th from 10 to 3.

Get up to 30% off at REI now until Sunday, April 13, 2008. Online only. Power Bar products are 25% off, Bell Helmets are 25% off. A windproof, waterproof light jacket, above, is $80 (orig $119). Browse all the sale items, including backpacks, clothing, and camping gear.

Buy any Keen item and get free shipping now until April 17.

Today is the last day for my boss, Daily News editor Ron Kaye. He finally got canned by the powers that be. Ron is probably best known for standing up for Valley folks who felt estranged from City Hall and the rest of LA. But Ron's legacy, in my mind, is his riff on an old Saturday Night Live skit with Will Ferrell. Yes folks, I'm talking about MORE COWBELL.

When Ron decided what we were doing in the newsroom was no longer working (circulation is dropping, if you have not heard), he gathered us up and asked us to take the paper's survival into our own hands. He asked us to innovate and try new things, to be disruptive like the cowbell-playing musician Ferrell plays in the SNL skit, which you can watch below (it gets good about a minute in). Who knows, maybe we would figure out how to make the newspaper profitable. If we effed up, at least we tried.

Ron called the strategy "more cowbell" and would lurch through the newsroom shouting this slogan while banging on a metal cowbell. A lot of reporters started blogs to be innovative, including myself. Writing the Bargain Hunter blog has helped me find my "voice," which sounds abstract but means putting onto paper the words that run through your head. Ron enabled me to find my voice and for that I sincerely thank him. Whenever in doubt, just use more cowbell.

Get 10% to 20% off at Kmart Sunday, April 6 only during their friends and family sale. Get 20% off on regular priced and clearance clothing, 20% off Kenmore appliances and 20% off shoes. Get 10% off everything else., except sale items, which are not eligible for extra discounts. The printable coupon is here. Find a store near you.

Caveats: Discount is not valid on sale items (including “Buy One, Get One” events), video game hardware, in-store specials, tobacco items, beer, wine licenses, warranties, lottery tickets, Kmart Gift Cards, Kmart Express, co-payments for prescriptions billed to insurance, all grocery and perishable merchandise in Kmart SuperCenters, Deli and prepared food, special services (such as UPS, money orders, Western Union, etc.), gasoline, magazines, maps and newspapers. May not be used with any other coupon.

Get an extra 30% off final sale items at J.Crew. The selection is not overwhelming, but at these prices it's worth a peek to see if they have anything in your size. Remember, no returns or exchanges. I like this mini-dot crinkle tissue skirt in pink, lime green or bright blue, above, for $35 (orig $75). A scooped halter swim top that comes in many solid colors is $21 (orig $40).

Don't forget to check out the sale shoes, belts and accessories. Search all final sale items by size. Thanks, Sarah!

Don't forget to book a $50 treatment during Spa Week, April 14 through 20. Hundreds of spas across the country are participating. The way it works is each spa can choose up to three treatments that they price at $50 each during spa week. Normally, they would run much higher. Treatments may include a basic massage, facial, laser treatment, manicure or pedicure. Make an appointment by registering here. Book now before all the good treatments are gone.

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.

For the thrifty diner who wants to save a buck at restaurants but not fiddle with coupons comes Rewards Network. You sign up on their Web site, register a credit card, then eat at one of the hundreds of restaurants that are part of the program. Each one has different perks but you can get up to 20% back on your entire meal, including alcohol and tax. The discount shows up a few days later on your credit card so you never have to show a membership card, mention a discount to the server, or say a word to your dining companions. Just pay with the card you registered.

Caveats: Rewards Network "retains" the first $49 in rebates each year but never charges you an outright fee. You don't get to see the specific benefits at each eatery until you join, which is kind of lame. Because you are giving them your credit card information, which is how they track your rebates, they can see where you are spending your moolah. If you are worried about privacy (read their privacy policy here) consider registering a credit card that you will only use for eating out.

Valley restaurants include The Rack at the Promenade mall in Canoga Park, Spazio in Sherman Oaks, many Baja Fresh locations and dozens of other restaurants. Browse the list of participating restaurants by zip code, cuisine, or state. Thanks, Stephanie!

Every April 1 my Mom gets me but this year I steeled myself with constant reminders to be wary of her phone call (her usual M.O.) This year, she didn't need any help.

I had just gotten out of Tuesday night's swim practice and was a little woozy from all the water (and from keeping up with two beefcakes, which I did until the final 4 x 125s). I had a few minutes on my walk home and decided to return my Mom's call from two days before. I told her about the swim, my voracious appetite and all that follows, then she told me her news.

"Paul and I are coming up on our 20th anniversary," she said.
"Wow, has it really been that long? Congratulations," I said.
"Well you were 10 when we got married," she said.
"I lost track but I'm 30 now, so that makes sense. So what are you going to do to celebrate?"
"We're thinking of going to Hawaii in June."
"Cool."
"We want the rest of the family to come so we're checking when everyone is free."
"Well, I don't know. Andrew and I were already talking about going to Hawaii in September for our five year anniversary."
"Paul and I were going to pay for everyone."
"Okay I'll go. I'LL GO!!!"
"Just kidding, April Fool's."
"What! No free trip?"
"Nope."

I was too stunned to even ask if it really was her 20th anniversary. Fink! Next year, I promise I will get you back! (I always say that, and then I always forget. C'est la vie.) At least I didn't fall for one as obvious as what she told my sister last year - that at 62 she was adopting a baby from Guatemala.

A denim sample sale that claims to have prices below wholesale is happening this weekend at the Los Angeles Convention Center in Petree Hall. Look for brands like Ed Hardy, True Religion, Rock & Republic at
The Warehouse Sale. Saturday is VIP day (i.e. you pay $15 online or $25 at the door to get in) or you can RSVP online and get in free Sunday ($5 at the door). Communal dressing rooms.

Hours are 10 to 4 both days. Gift bags Saturday for the first 200 shoppers. Visit them at 1201 S. Figueroa St. in Los Angeles. Structured parking at the West Hall with entrance from Cherry St. They take cash and credit cards. Thanks, Jen!

Get a $59 Clinique makeup kit for $25 for a limited time through Sephora. The Black Honey set, above, includes color surge eye shadow trio, Kohl shaper for eyes in black honey, high impact mascara in black honey, almost lipstick in black honey, full potential lips plump and shine in blackberry bloom, and a cosmetics bag. As a bonus they toss in a free travel-size makeup remover. To get the discount enter HONEY at checkout. The freebie makeup remover will automatically be added to your cart.

Caveats: one promo code per order, offer not valid in Canada, in stores, or on previous purchases.

If you are still looking for a prom dress, check out eDressme.com. They have a ton of pricey dresses in the $300s, but also a huge selection of dresses under $99. Many are final sale (not returnable), but not all. A long white gown with turquoise accents around the bust by Faviana, above, is $99 (orig $218).

Show some skin in a black mini with a plunging V-neck and bubble skirt, also for $99. Comes in xs and m only. Browse all their prom dresses on sale.

Get 40% off your entire purchase at the Reebok Outlet now through Sunday, April 6, 2008. You can also use this printable coupon to get the discount at Rockport and Greg Norman Outlets.

Caveats: cannot be combined with other % off coupons, not good on items with a price ending in .95, or buy one get one free, buy two get a third free offers. Excludes previous purchases. Find a Rockport, Reebok, or Greg Norman outlet near you.

Guys, sorry but no daily digest today. I'm tied up with some urgent issues, but hope to be back tomorrow. Thanks for your understanding and patience. ~Julia

You may have noticed the tiny green buttons that started appearing at the bottom of each post yesterday. They say "Share This" and look like a mini wishbone. Clicking the button lets you share a post with everyone else in cyberspace by sending the post to Web sites like Digg, Reddit, and Del.icio.us. These sites rank stories and blog posts by how many votes each one gets. So in theory you can go to one of these sites and read the top ranked stories. Each time you share a post it gets one vote. Vote a lot!!! You can also email a post to a specific person with this button (click on the gray "Send" tab).

I hope you will share blog posts you find useful with your friends and others in cyberspace. Sharing posts will help me spread the word and help others save a buck! Just click on "Share This," then choose the ranking site you want to send it to.

Caveats: there always is one, right? This caveat is that to share a post you need to register on the ranking sites. I like Digg because the site is really intuitive and well organized, so if you only join one consider Digg.

For their spring break sale, the educational toymaker Discovery Toys has marked down 17 items by 50%. A stunt loop track for toy cars, above, is $17.50 (orig $35). An elephant teether is $4 (orig $8). Click here to see everything that's on sale. Prices go back up April 27.

Visiting Australia is about to get cheaper. V Australia Airlines, an offshoot of Virgin Blue Airlines, announced Monday it will start flying 10 round trip flights from LAX to Syndey each week. For years Quantas and United Airlines have cornered the market, but that's about to change because of a new "open skies" agreement signed Monday. More airlines flying the same route means more competition and lower prices. Plus, Virgin is known for super low introductory rates when they start a new route. The new flights will start in December.

Looks like booking online will be a tad difficult. When I tried to look at flights starting at LAX there were none. Hmmm, try booking over the phone if you also run into this problem online.

Get 10% off all the cookies and treats at Good Fortunes now until May 1, 2008. No minimum required. To get the discount order use code DN8. The Canoga Park company has been hand making sweets since 1995. To avoid shipping charges, pick up your order at their shop.

Check out their Mother's Day items, including a gigantic caramel toffee cookie with chocolate drizzle, for $28.50. It measures 11-inches across and weighs just under a pound. You can personalize a message up to 10 sentences or send Good Fortunes a message, check or gift certificate and they will insert it into the cookie. Imagine the surprise!

The talented testers at Shop Smart magazine, which is published by Consumer Reports, checked out 81 flat screen TVs in four different price ranges. They recommend the following eight.

For under $1,000 consider the Olevia 537H or the Vizio VW37LHDTV. For this kind of money you will mostly find 32- to 37-inch 720p LCD screens. To get a bigger set in this price range you'll have to go with off brands.

Your best bets for a budget between $1,000 and $1,500 are the Panasonic TH-42PX77U or the Sony Bravia KDL-40S3000. In this range expect to find "excellent quality" 720p LCD sets with 40- or 42-inch screens, 42-inch plasmas from established brands and slightly bigger sets from lesser known brands.

In the $1,500 to $2,000 range the mag recommends the Panasonic TH-50PX75U or the Sony Bravia KDL-46S3000. For this kind of money you'll see 720p LCD sets up to 47-inches and plasmas around 50-inches. Rear projection sets will go up to 56-inches but they take up more room.

If you have an unlimited budget check out the Sharp Aquos LC-52D9462U or the Panasonic TH-50PZ700U. Lots of cash will get you 1080p resolution up to 70-inches. (720p sets have a slightly lower resolution but color and contrast also contribute to how an image appears.)

To find the best TV consider these other factors: If you watch tons of movies consider a plasma set because images look better in dim lighting. If you play a lot of video games go for an LCD set so the video game logo won't permanently burn onto the screen. If you watch TV in a bright room consider an LCD set which are brighter and don't reflect as much as plasmas. LCDs also use less energy.

Get a free printer cartridge refill at Walgreens Wednesday, April 2, 2008 only. Brands included in the freebie are Dell, HP, Lexmark, Okidata, Primera, Sharp and Xerox. No purchase is necessary but you will need this printable coupon. You can also find the coupon in their March 30 flyer. Looks like you can get one black or color refill.

For all the details click here. Find a participating store near you.

Look below for your specific model to make sure refills are available before you lug it down to Walgreens...

Get $5 off your purchase of $25 or more at the Office Depot now until April 14, 2008. Good in stores only. To get the discount use this printable coupon. Eligible items include office supplies, furniture, lighting, desk accessories, filing/storage, and cleaning/breakroom supplies.

Caveats: excludes gift cards, stamps, protection plans, HP ink and toner, technology items like computers, printers, software, memory, wireless, satellite, Internet, mailing and shipping. Read the fine print for all the details. Find an Office Depot near you.

Buy one lunch at TGI Friday's and get the second one half off when you order from their Right Portion Right Price menu. Good now until April 18, 2008, Monday through Friday 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Go here to print the coupon.

Caveats: dine in only, not valid on alcohol, tax or tip. One coupon per party. Find a TGI Friday's near you.

Select pairs of shoes are up to 30% off at Payless until April 14, 2008. A pair of women's brown woven leather slides is $13 (orig $20). A pair of black and white skimmers with a skull pattern, above, is $10 (orig $18).

Browse the sale pairs in women's, men's, girl's , and boy's.

For all you coupon clippers and coupon wannabes, the Coupon Wallet is the ultimate in coupon organizing. It's a little pricey - $20 plus shipping - but you can get 10% off now with coupon code BHSAVE. (Just for Bargain Hunter readers!) The code expires April 30, 2008.

Nancy Kremin in Granada Hills sells the Coupon Wallet, which comes in a case that has a grocery club card holder, a pen, solar calculator, pocket for your cash and credit cards, scissors, and of course, lots of folders to hold your coupon. It even attaches to your grocery cart.

Kremin said she created the specialized organizer after being frustrated with trying to organize her own coupons. The wallet comes in six colors. You can buy it through the Web site or call (800) 993-3308 or (818) 360-8327.