August 2008 Archives

There's a new competitor for online rebate sites eBates.com and Cashbaq.com. The newcomer is called Extrabux.com and the site is similar to its better known rivals. You register with them, click through to retailers from their site, and earn automatic rebates from 1% to 30% on your purchases.

I compared five retailers to see who had the best rebates. Extrabux.com and Cashbaq.com both came out ahead twice and for one store all three had the same rate. Here's how it broke down:

--- Extrabux --- Cashbaq --- eBates
iTunes --- 4% --- N/A --- 3%
Macy's --- 3% --- 5% --- 4%
Magazines.com --- 30% --- 20% --- 26%
Best Buy --- 1% --- 1% --- 1%
Staples --- 1% --- 2% --- 1%

eBates has the best sign-up deal, offering a $10 gift card at one of three or four stores or $5 in cash, which they send you once you make a purchase through them. Cashbaq.com offers $5 for joining and like eBates, they send it to you after you make a purchase through them. Extrabux.com does not seem to offer any bonus for signing up.

It is also unclear how long Extrabux.com takes to send you your rebate. The site says "these earnings will be deposited into your account (become available) once the return time on the purchased item has passed." So if the store has a 90 day return policy you have to wait three months? What about if it is a store like REI, that basically takes items indefinitely?

I'm going to contact them and let you know what I find out.

The Web site DealNews.com has an even more extensive list of Labor Day sales than the one I put together below. Theirs is organized by type of item. Here are some of the best sales:

Kitchen, Bed, & Bath
Amazon.com: Need to stock up on kitchen appliances? Amazon.com slices up to 70% off kitchen and home appliances during its Labor Day Sale. This includes items from KitchenAid, Lenox, Bissell, and more.

IKEA: Furnish your house and snag a free breakfast at your local IKEA this weekend. The Swedish furniture store is cutting up to 50% off select furniture and serving free breakfast at select locations until 10:30am.

Linens 'n Things: Linens 'n Things cuts up to 50% off a selection of items during its Labor Day Sale. Plus, take an extra 20% off any one item via coupon code "AUG2808".

Men's & Women's Clothing and Accessories
BabyCenter.com: BabyCenter.com is having a sitewide Labor Day sale with up to 40% off baby merchandise including car seats, cribs, toys, and more. Plus, use coupon code "EXTRA15%OFF" to get 15% off your purchase of $150 or more.

Liz Claiborne: Liz Claiborne takes up to 85% off...

I got the sweetest email from a reader last night. Gillian writes: "Hi Julia, I adore your column as I'm always in search of bargains. I wanted to pass on a little miracle which was given to me and could possibly benefit a lot of people.

"Last week the right front hub cap of my 2000 Toyota Corolla was either stolen or fell off due to questionable driving on my part. A friend of mine told me not to go to the dealership and directed me to Mike at Culver City Hub Caps and Wheels, 4228 South Sepulveda Blvd., Culver City 90230. Phone (310)559-1200. I went and discovered a treasure trove!

"He has hub caps galore, new and used in pristine condition hanging all over the store. He immediately found one for my car, put in on, cleaned my others and I was out the door in ten minutes. He charged me a grand total of $25.00 instead of the $120 I would have been charged by Miller Toyota (I checked). Please pass the info on as he's such a lovely man and I would like to return the favor.

"Many thanks,
Gillian"

I did a quick check online for Toyota Corolla hubcaps and Mike does seem to have good prices. For folks outside of LA, you can find similar hubcap prices on Hubcaps.org.

I found slightly higher prices on Hubcap Haven.com and HubcapZone.com

Prices were slightly cheaper on HubcapMike.com. Wonder if it's the same Mike? Wouldn't that be funny!

Get 60% off gift certificates at Restaurant.com in celebration of Labor Day. On the site you buy certificates in set amounts for specific eateries. Make sure to read the particular redemption rules for each certificate because many require a minimum purchase, some are valid only on certain days or for certain hours.

To get the discount use code LABOR when checking out. Right now $25 certificates are selling for $10, but with the discount they are $4 each.

At Los Chilenos in Canoga Park, which makes empanadas, above, redeeming a $25 certificate requires a minimum food purchase of $35, excluding alcohol and beverages. An 18% gratuity is added and the certificate can be used for dining in only.

Unclear how long the promotion lasts for.

I'll say right here that I have not seen this production at the El Centro Theatre in LA so it could be a real snoozer, for all I know. The one review I found online was positive, anonymous and got cut off in the second sentence by a bad link.

But...if you want to see "The Subject was Roses," about a soldier who returns home from World War II to find his family has grown even more dysfunctional, you can get half price tickets by mentioning the Bargain Hunter.

Tickets are $7.50 (orig $15) until it closes September 18. Shows are Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays at 8 pm. The production is by the West Coast Ensemble.

To make a reservation call (323) 460-4443, hit #2 for "The Subject was Roses" and mention the Bargain Hunter to get the discount. You should also be able to get the discount at the box office, which only accepts cash.

The El Centro is at 800 N. El Centro in Los Angeles.

A ton of retailers are having sales this holiday weekend. If you haven't finished your back to school shopping, this weekend is a great time to get discounts, thought you may have to fight the crowds. Here's a concise roundup.

Macys has mattresses, rugs and furniture on sale this weekend, in addition to markdowns on typical categories like clothes, shoes and handbags.

a href="http://jcpenney.com/jcp/default.aspx" target="_blank">JC Penney's sale is Friday and Saturday, with a focus on back to school items. Online get free shipping on orders of $49 or more.

Kohl's sale is Friday and Saturday.

Bloomingdales offers 30 to 50% off already reduced items online and 20 to 66% off home items in stores and online. Both sales go through Monday, September 1.

Fry's sale prices are good through Tuesday, September 2.

Chef's Corner is offering $10 off purchases of $99 or more through Tuesday, September 2

Overstock.com offers 10% off all purchases with some caveats and exceptions. Read the fine print first.

Get $10 off a $40 purchase at Walgreens Friday, August 29 and Saturday August 30 only. Print the coupon here. One per customer.

The closer your purchase total comes to $40 without going under, the higher percent off you get (max 20%). Items must come to $40 before taxes to count.

Caveats: excludes prescriptions, prescription co-pays, tobacco, alcohol, gift cards, and pre-paid cards. Find a Walgreens near you.

Gotta love the guys at Woot.com. They make electronics funny. Now they've turned their comic eye on the Democratic National Convention with this SNL-style list of 10 things to look forward to at the donkey fest. (With it ending today we can see how many of their predictions came true.)

If you don't have a sense of humor, you should not read this post. If you think I'm biased, check back next week when Woot's shares their top 10 list for the Republican National Convention.

Without further ado...10 things to look forward to at the DNC.

1. Video set to Crosby, Stills and Nash just to reassure the upper middle class that Obama isn't as black as they think

2. Joe Biden reveals he has begun estrogen therapy in bid to lock up the transsexual vote

3. Carefully framed camera shots that hide everyone but twentysomethings and celebrities

4. Confused booking coordinator schedules speech by Jamie Kennedy

5. Two stabbed in heated debate over...

Gas prices have dropped almost 30 cents across the nation in the past month, according to the AAA Fuel Guage Report. In California the drop has been even more dramatic - 37 cents.

But don't get too comfortable. Seems like the slightest hint of a threat can send them back up, and indeed Tropical Storm Gustav off the Gulf of Mexico has already raised some concern, according to the Austin Business Journal. The price of crude oil has risen for the past four days, reaching $118 a barrel this morning.

"Forecasters say Gustav could potentially be the worst storm to hit the mainland United States since 2005 when hurricanes Katrina and Rita devastated the Gulf Coast region," the story says. "Those storms ground offshore energy activity to a virtual halt, leaving a great deal of production 'shut in' for months."

The storm could force many oil rigs to shut down production. Some companies have already begun evacuating employees.

"In addition to oil prices, the forced shut down of offshore operations will affect the natural gas industry as well," the story continues. "About 15 percent of the natural gas produced in the United States comes from the Gulf."

Gasoline prices always rise quicker than they fall so fill up soon!

Kids under the age of 12 can get a free glass of milk and a cookie weekday afternoons at specific Le Pain Quotidien bakeries in September and October.

To get the deal, they must come with an adult, who must buy something. The PR rep tells me there is no minimum purchase, so you could buy a cup of coffee, a sandwich, or a cookie for yourself and your kid will still get the free treat.

The promo is happening at five locations around LA, in Studio City, Pasadena, Brentwood, Larchmont (opening mid-September), and Claremont. Click here for a list of their stores across the globe. Scroll way down for the LA stores.

Caveats: must drop by Monday through Friday between 2:30 and 4pm. While there is not a specific limit on the number of kids who can come with each adult, the deal is intended for family to bond with their children, grandchildren, nieces and nephews. If you bring in a dozen kids, there's no telling if the store will honor the deal.

(not my actual lunch) Wednesday comes and I'm desperate for a Lincoln Lunch, that $5 meal I am so fond of. I'm cruising Vanowen Street looking for a score when I pass Valley Produce, a large supermarket with a marquee outside that lists a dozen more businesses, including Jerusalem Grill (no Web site, unfortunately). But there is only one building. Hmmm.

I pull a U-turn and head into the parking lot of Valley Produce. The front spots are packed and the back lot is surprisingly full considering it's a Wednesday afternoon.

Jerusalem Grill is in the entryway to the grocery store, a large open space that is buzzing with customers. Even on weekends my local Albertsons does not get this crowded!

I am delighted to find 13 sandwiches for $5.50 or less and ordered the chicken shawarma, a dish that always takes me back to a dirty street in Conakry, the capital of Guinea in West Africa. I was there visiting my sister, a daring peace corps volunteer, and was exhausted after the long trip from New York. It was nighttime and I told Kate I needed food. In an alley we found this dingy hole in the wall grill and she ordered two shawarmas, which I had never had before. The food was hot, flavorful, and one of the best things I ever ate.

I didn't expect the shawarma from Jerusalem Grill to live up to my carefully crafted...

Get 30% off one regular priced item at Borders now until Monday, September 1. Gotta be part of their free membership program, which you can join only in stores. Not good on sale merchandise. Print the coupon here. One per customer.

Caveats: cannot be combined with any other offer, including but not limited to "3 for 2," "Buy 4, Get 5th Free" or "Buy 1, Get 1 Half Price" offers. Excludes previous purchases, non-stock special orders, gift cards, newspapers, magazines, comics, coupon books, eBooks, digital downloads, self-publishing programs, Rosetta Stone® software, shipping, and all electronics, including the Sony® Reader and the ZuneTM.

Find a Border's near you.

Get 20% off your total purchase at Godiva online. The deal is good today through Monday, September 1. Use code SAVE20 when checking out. The code works on regular and sale priced chocolates

A box of worldly chocolates is $15.50 (on sale for $18.20, orig $26). An 18-piece gift box of chocolate mousse treats is $28.80 (orig $36).

Caveats: valid in U.S. only. Not valid at Godiva Boutiques, department/specialty stores, or through 1-800-9GODIVA. Not valid on previous purchases, and cannot be combined with volume discounts or other promotions or offers. Not redeemable for cash. Not valid on orders over $600. Orders must ship by 9/30/08.

A reader recommended I check out A&M Book Cellars in Canoga Park for jaw-dropping prices on paperbacks. I would be bowed over by the store, he promised.

I was - and I wasn't. A&M is one of those stores where homemade signs point customers to the door that still works. The merchandise is not perfectly organized and the floors are a little dusty.

But the prices are remarkable. A hardback of "The Corrections" by Jonathan Franzen (a fabulous book once it gets started) in gift-worthy condition was $5. Paperbacks copies of Tom Clancy, Mary Higgins Clark, Catherine Coulter and Patricia Cornwell books were half their cover price ($3+) and in good, but not perfect, condition.

The store had sections for romance, legal thriller, science fiction, western, and young readers. The top shelf in many of those sections are $1. Books not marked are half their cover price.

In the bargain room books are a quarter each, five for a dollar, or 15 for $2. The titles are not entirely obscure, as I suspected they would be, but their condition suffers more than the rest of the store. In the bargain room I saw "The Firm" by John Grisham, a hard back copy of Tom Wolfe's "Bonfire of the Vanities" and "The Hobbit" by J.R.R. Tolkien.

A&M has been around for 24 years and one employee claims it is the last independent paperback bookstore in the Valley. Even if that's not true, the store is...

Take advantage of eBay sellers looking to unload a Luis Vuitton purse, slacks from Bannana Republic, or Calloway golf clubs with Typo Buddy, a site that helps you find misspelled items on Ebay.

When a hapless seller doesn't use the correct spelling for their item, fewer people find it, which means less competition and fewer bids. So you may be able to get a better price!

The way Type Buddy works is you enter the correct spelling of the item you are looking for and they run a search of common misspellings. The site also works for Craigslist. Read more about the site.

I tried searching for iPhone, which is on Hubby's wish list, and got 119 results. Mostly miscellaneous crap came up, including Ivana Trump's "For Love Alone" DVD. Lame.

When relevant items came up, like this iSkin cell phone pouch, I had a hard time telling if it was a better deal than correctly spelled items. A little cross comparison would help so give it a try and let me know if it works for you!

Nordstrom's shoe clearance has hundreds of pairs of shoes for 40% off. There are 44 pages online and with 21 pairs per page that = 924 pairs. Examining them all is going to require a lot of shirking of duties at work! For you, I mean, not me. I'm on a shoe moratorium. :(

A black leather short boot with a 2 1/2 inch heel from Frye, above, is $160 (orig $270). A Tsubo leather sandal with a low wedge heel and wide peep toe opening is $65 (orig $110).

A super cute and fishy Chooka rain boot is $35 (orig $60). A Keen Ventura sneaker is $35 (orig $60). I paid $50 for a pair on sale at REI so this is a good price. A few kid's pairs are also on sale.

Find a Nordstrom near you.

Buy one bottle of wine, get a second bottle of the same wine for 5 cents. More than 100 wines are eligible for the deal. A bottle of Red Bicyclette Pinot Noir, above, is $13.

Browse their 5 cent whites, 5 cent reds, 5 cent spirits and 5 cent mixers that are part of the sale.

Caveats: Club Bev membership is required to get the deal. Joining is free and every time you spend $250 you get a 5% off coupon that is good for one year. The nickel sale is limited to supplies on hand. Vintages subject to change. No adjustments to prior purchases.

Find a Bev Mo near you. Unclear when the sale ends. Thanks, Wilcox!

The Crate & Barrel upholstery sale starts August 29 and goes through October 5. During the sale custom upholstery is 25% off with some 2,000 fabrics and leathers to choose from. The store has more than 150 frames and furniture styles.

Before the discount, the Javier Ottoman with grown up blossoms in red, creme and yellow on a dark chocolate background is $500.

Caveats: sale does not include stock or stock plus. In select stores only. To find a participating store call 800-323-5461 or click here. In LA stores with furniture include Beverly Hills and The Grove.

Right now the store has free shipping when you buy bedding online, over the phone or through the catalog. The deal includes sheet sets, quilts, duvet inserts, pillows and mattress pads but does not include decorative accent pillows, throws, mattresses, foundations or Outlet items. Ends September 30 at noon CT. Excludes all bedding sold in Crate and Barrel outlet stores and online outlet.

Get a $1 kid-sized scoop of ice cream every Tuesday night at participating Baskin Robbins stores. The cheap treat is a 2.5 ounce scoop that normally sells for about $2. Some stores will give you an adults scoop (usually about $2.50) for $1.

To get the discount drop by Baskin Robbins between 6 and 10pm on Tuesdays. You don't have to be a kid to get the deal, which is ongoing.

To find out if your local Baskin Robbins is participating call them. Stores are listed here. But remember to call! Just because a store is listed does not mean they are participating.

I love Baskin Robbins' mint ice cream, but I'm a sucker for that flavor pretty much anywhere.

Do you see four or more plays a year? If so you may want to check out OnTheHouseTickets.com. It costs $225 for a one year membership or $130 for a six-month membership. Mention the Bargain Hunter and get $10 off until October 1, 2008.

Members get free tickets to a dozen or more shows each week. The way it works is On The House receives free tickets from shows that need to spread the word or fill the house if a critic is coming, then passes the freebies onto members, who can attend more than one show each week.

Once you join the owner Tracy e-mails you when tickets become available. If you are interested in a particular show, call her Tuesday through Thursday between 1 and 5pm or on Friday between 1 and 4 pm at (310) 392-7588. She takes your reservation and makes sure your tickets are waiting at the box office.

You get a pair of tickets for each show. Tracy was tight lipped when it came to sharing some of the shows she gets tickets to because she doesn't want to hurt her relationship with the theaters (imagine if you paid $$$ for tickets and the dope next to you got in free). But prospective members can email her and ask her for examples of shows they would get tickets to if they joined.

If for some reason a show starts selling tickets like crazy and wants its freebies back, Tracy will call you and ask if you will release the tickets. But in the two years she has run the site that has only happened three times, she said. Occasionally, tickets cost $3 to $5.

Thanks, Bruce!

These two stores make N one of the most expensive letters around. Not that I have the moolah to shop at Neiman Marcus or Nordstrom, but if you do, or if you enjoy getting style ideas from the two department stores (and then running to Target), you should know that they are both opening new locations in the Valley next week.

Neiman Marcus opens September 5 at the Topanga Mall in Canoga Park in the newly dubbed "luxury wing." I wonder if any of the upscale stores like Furla or Burberry in the Canyon part of the mall will move to be closer to Neimans.

As part of their opening festivities, you can attend or participate in a fashion show hosted by Jenny McCarthy September 6 for a chance to win prizes worth $1,000.

Also on September 5, Nordstrom opens at The Oaks Mall in Thousand Oaks. The store kicks off the opening with beauty demos and consultations starting at 8 am.

Get all of the day's new blog post e-mailed to your inbox when you sign up for the Bargain Hunter daily digest. I send it out once a day, Monday through Friday.

The daily digest is the best way to see if there is anything interesting to you on the blog.

You can join by plugging in your email at the upper left corner of the blog or by emailing me. I don't share e-mail addresses.

Let me know if you want to get the local digest, which is for Angelenos, or the national digest, for readers outside of LA. Thanks!

PS. Because no picture goes with this post I opted for a random humorous one. What a great way to get back at a crazy neighbor!

Remember Woot.com? The site sells one item for 24 hours starting at midnight until it sells out or the day ends. The site was so successful they started sister sites Shirt.Woot, Wine.Woot and Sellout.Woot (a daily item sold through Yahoo! Shopping).

Turns out the business model is so popular Woot has been named the fastest growing private retailer in the U.S. by Inc. Magazine. With $117 million in sales in 2007, the company has seen 4,988% growth from 2004, when it had $2.3 million in sales.

That's crazy growth. Woot ranks 25 on Inc's list of the top 5000 fastest growing private companies, for all industries.

The funny guys at Woot talk about the honor. "When we finished admiring ourselves, we remembered what brought us to this lofty echelon: you guys. Without your enthusiasm, your word-of-mouth evangelism, and of course your money, all we'd have is a warehouse full of junk and a couple of frustrated writers who think they're funny. So thanks to Inc. Magazine for the honors, but thanks to all wooters for making those honors possible."

The four Woot sites are good ones to keep in mind and the sites' forum are a great resources for shoppers with questions about that day's product. Thanks, Dana!

Here are links to all the deals mentioned in today's column.

Discounted theater

$5 off with Google

Bra sale

REI 30% off

Fight back

School resources

Lincoln Lunch: Hot dogs

Perchance you have some summer vacation photos to develop? Get 10-cent prints at Walgreens now until August 30, 2008 when you order 50 or more 4 x 6 inch prints online.

Use code GETFIFTY. Normally prints are 19 cents each when you order less than 99 and 15 cents when you order 100 or more.

Caveats: valid for up to five uses per account, does not apply toward taxes or shipping charges. Not valid in stores.

Find a Walgreens near you.

What I hope is the final chapter in my battle with Checks Unlimited to get a box of checks for $6.50 ended this morning. It all started a few weeks ago when I filled out their order form and mailed it in with payment.

The price was $6.50 for new customers and I was ordering from a new address so that rendered me a new customer I figured. If not, surely they would return my money.

Not only did they cash my check but sent me a bill for $12.20 because I was not, they pointed out, a new customer. Their records indicated I had ordered in 2005. Drat!

I blogged about my dilemma and was soundly reprimanded for being sneaky. Double drat!

At least one reader took my side, however, and suggested calling them up and explaining my intention. The toll free number they provided was busy. A secondary number I found online was busy. Luckily, a savvy reader shared an inside number for Checks Unlimited (719-531-3900) that worked.

When the customer service operator picked up I explained my situation and apologized for my misunderstanding. Would they please honor the original price?

A pause on the other line...

Really, we're very cheap, is the message upscale grocers like Whole Foods are trying to send, says a story in the Baltimore Sun.

"Higher food prices and the slowing economy are forcing consumers to stretch their grocery dollars - heightening competition among supermarkets and leading even chic spots such as Whole Foods to trumpet their bargains," the story says. "Grocers report that shoppers are using more coupons, buying less expensive cuts of meat and increasingly seeking out store brands as they try to lower their food bills."

No doubt they are feeling the pinch as shoppers pull back on extras and stick to the basics. So some markets are going on the defensive. Whole Foods has a "Shopping on a Shoe String" tour during which an employees points out their best deals. Other stores are expanding coupon programs, the story says, though I have not seen many changes myself.

Forgive me if I am still a little skeptical of Whole Foods being a "bargain." But perhaps I will visit the store with my Nitty Gritty Grocery List to compare their prices with low-cost leaders like Food 4 Less, Trader Joe's and Fresh & Easy. Stay tuned.

I'm already drooling for Shoe Frenzy 2008! The Women's Clinic & Family Counseling Center puts on the benefit sale once a year and I hear it is fabulous.

Reader Sue says "I've been here several times--totally chaos, but fun and you can find some bargains if you get there....really early! Some people get there at midnight and something that I learned after the first time was to bring some duck tape or something to hold the boxes together as you have to carry them all with no baskets!"

Mark your calendars. The sale is Saturday, September 6 from 8 am to noon. They sell brands like Kenneth Cole, Seychelles, Betsey Johnson and Diesel. Most pairs are under $50 and all pairs are under $100. The clinic gets merchants to donate the shoes, which are all new. Click here and scroll down to see pictures of pairs sold at past sales and their pricetags.

Caveats: Admission is $1. Parking is free. They accept cash, check with ID and credit card. All sales are final. Doors open at 8 am and you cannot line up before 7, but you can show up early and get a numbered line-up bracelet.

Visit them at the Veterans Memorial Complex Auditorium, 4117 Overland Ave. in Culver City. Thanks, Sue!

I know the last time I posted a Starbucks freebie it turned out to be a scam and I still wince when I think about that bad mistake. But this time the freebie is fo' rizzle. For all you folks who have never heard of Snoop Dogg, that means for real.

Get a free 10 ounce Sorbetto or 16 ounce Vivanno at select Starbucks locations in Southern California on Wednesday August 27 from 4 to 7 pm only. Basically, it's happening at stores that already sell the Sorbetto drink.

The freebie is part of their customer appreciation day, though I suspect it is a ruse to hook customers on two of their newest drinks and boost business.

If you are still on the fence, there will also be free pastries. That did it for me, too.

The Sorbetto comes in five flavors, Pinkberry, tangy mango, tangy citrus, citrus ice and mixed berry. Very sweet. It is normally about $3. The Vivanno comes in two flavors, chocolate banana and orange mango banana. The chocolate one, above, has the texture of cold milk and is not super chocolaty, but refreshing.

To find a participating Starbucks near you, go here. There are more than a dozen participating in the Valley.

I find computer sales dizzying. So many numbers, technical terms and options that I get frustrated just browsing the computer ads! I know a lot of folks buy computers as part of their back to school shopping so I thought a basic guide would be useful.

I called Brian Markwalter, a techie at the Consumer Electronics Association, who just went through this process while sending his son off to college. Brian suggested checking with your child's school as a first step. Colleges often have minimum requirements that take out a lot of the guesswork. Look on the school's Web site or flip through your welcome packet.

If you are on your own, here are the nuts and bolts of what you need for a basic computer (word processing, Internet surfing, email, etc) and for a sophisticated computer (if you play a ton of video games).

Processor
"The processor is the brain," Brian says. "It is doing most of the work." Prices are closely tied to speed. Many systems will have more than one processor inside the computer, with names like dual core, core duo, quad core, which refers to how many processors are inside the machine. As computers get faster and faster, it is more efficient to delegate the work among multiple processors than increase the speed of a single processor. For a basic computer look for a minimum of 1 GHz. Gamers and users running more sophisticated applications will need 2 GHz and multiple processors.

Memory
"If don't have enough memory...

Going back to school means a lot more than getting a new pair of shoes and picking out a fresh backpack. Parents have to decide where to send their children to school, students must kick start their brains and find homework help and teachers want to create engaging lessons.

Here are five Web sites that do just that, courtesy of Wink News, a TV station in Southwest Florida, of all places. The station's technology reporter compiled these recommendations.

GreatSchools.net
"If you're a parent trying to decide on the best school to send your child to check out GreatsShools.net. They have comprehensive profiles for thousands of schools nationwide! You can get detailed academic performance data, student-teacher ratio and clear explanations for all information presented."

SchoolTimeGames.com
Who said learning has to be boring? This site has math, logic, science, sports and social studies games to make learning fun. I tried a counting game and I could see how young kids would get hooked.

HomeworkSpot.com
"It's a useful reference center with free access to...

Get 40% off all regular priced items at Fashion Bug this Sunday only. Clearance items are 20% off. Fashion Bug carries plus and regular sizes for women and juniors, intimates, accessories and shoes.

Before the discount, a High School Musical T-shirt, above, is $17. In the misses department, a green floral top with a smocked neckline is $25. Browse their plus sizes, misses department, and juniors options.

Caveats: online only from 12:01 am pacific time until 11:59 pm pacific time August 24, 2008. Excludes Priced Just Right items, Right Fit by Fashion Bug™, designer fragrances, fine jewelry, watches, hosiery, bras, panties, Skechers®, bridal collection and gift cards. Valid on in-stock merchandise only. Cannot be combined with other offers. Additional exclusions may apply.

Get 30% off at the Footlocker chain and at Champs now until Sunday, August 24, 2008. Print the coupon for Footlocker, Lady Footlocker or Kids Footlocker here and Champs here.

Give the coupons time to load because at first the type appears blurry. These discounts make it a great time to get shoes for school or stock up on running shoes, which need to be replaced often. The discount is not valid online or through the catalog.

Caveats: not valid on clearance or outlet stores, with any other discounts, on bulk purchases of more than five pairs, prior purchases or gift cards. Some additional exclusions and rules. Read the fine print for all the details.

Find a Footlocker near you. Find a Champs near you.

Save a few bucks while back to school shopping using Google Checkout, which is a PayPal competitor. Depending on the retailer, you can get $5 off a $30 purchase or $10 off a $60 purchase when you pay with Google Checkout. (The larger discount applies only to Beauty.com, Drugstore.com and the 20th Century Fox store.)

Participating stores include Jockey.com, eBags.com, and ShoeBuy.com, among others.

The promotion lasts until September 9, 2008. You have to have an account with Google Checkout to get this deal. They hold your credit card or bank account information and you make the purchase through them instead of sharing your information with each retailer. Some folks feel this is safer.

Search the full list of participating stores here. When shopping online, pay using Google Checkout to get the discount.

Caveats: One discount per merchant.

If your email address is with AOL, you will automatically be removed from the Bargain Hunter Daily Digest list if the digest bounces even once. Other email providers may reject the digest from time to time (not sure why, perhaps they consider it spam).

So if you suddenly stop receiving the digest, re-subscribe by plugging in your email to the upper left hand corner of the blog. And make sure julia.scott@dailynews.com, the address from which the digest is sent, is on your "safe" or "white" list. That way the digest will get through to your inbox. Thanks!

UPDATE: This free deal starts TOMORROW, Saturday August 23. I went in today and had to ask nicely three times to get the free sample. I apologize if anybody else has this trouble! The email I received from Sephora does NOT mention a start date so I assumed it started immediately. Print out the email if you go in today to make your case. If you can, wait until tomorrow.

PREVIOUSLY: Get a free 10-day supply of bareMinerals SPF 15 foundation and mini brush from Sephora when you make any online purchase or ask for one in stores. The Bare Escentuals foundation comes in six shades, fairly light, light, medium beige, medium tan, medium dark, and golden dark.

Online use promo code MYSHADE. No purchase is required to get the freebie in stores, though supplies are limited.

Caveats: not valid on previous purchases, or with gift cards. One offer per order. Cannot be used in conjunction with other promotion codes.

Find a Sephora near you.

REI's Labor Day sale starts today and goes through Monday, Sept. 1. In stores and online. Tents, sleeping bags, backpacks and equipment, clothes and shoes are up to 30% off.

Nike women's fitness clothing is all 25% off, BOB Revoluntion Strollers are all 20% off, Thule Racks are 20% off, and selected kids clothing is 30% off. A pair of Keen Newport H2 Sandals, above, are $70 (orig $90).

Clearance items are up to 50% off. Find an REI near you. They have stores in most states.

Get used to high food prices because they aren't likely to drop soon and may rise even more, says a story in yesterday's Daily News.

"That's because retail prices for cereal, eggs, cheese, and meat generally lag by several months or longer the world prices for wheat, corn and soybeans - the raw ingredients of so much of our food," the story says. "Some food items may come down modestly as commodities prices cool; others might not budge a cent and some may actually increase."

Food prices have jumped 6 percent this year, well ahead of the normal inflation rate of about 2 percent. Increasing demand and disastrous weather have increased the price of flour, rice and other staples, the story says.

Food prices have fallen slower than gas prices because prices for food commodities are "well above historical levels," and because there is actually only a small amount of corn, wheat and grains in our food, giving manufacturers less pricing power.

That last reason doesn't make a lot of sense to me. If a box of corn flakes only has a little but of corn in it, why would the price rise so much in the first place?

If you haven't already, check out My Nitty Gritty Grocery List. I updated it recently with the best prices for 35 staple items. Print it out, stash it in your wallet, and refer to it to see what is a "good" price when you are grocery shopping.

Late breaking deal! Get $5 off a $20 purchase at Walgreens this Friday, August 22 and Saturday, August 23 only. In stores only. Print the coupon here.

Keep school supplies in mind if you use the coupon. Good on photos, too.

Caveats: excludes alcohol, tobacco, prescriptions, prescription copays, gift cards, pre-paid cards and items prohibited by law. Limit one coupon per customer per offer. Taxes do not count towards $20.

Click here to see the in store coupons available on the Walgreens Web site. Find a Walgreens near you.

Get $25 off a purchase of $100 or more plus free shipping at Coldwater Creek now until Sunday, August 24, 2008. Use code WXH3966 when checking out online. Mention the code over the phone (800-510-2808) or print this coupon to get the discount in stores. One time use only.

Caveats: does not apply to gift cards, orders must be shipped to a single address, previous purchases are not eligible. Not valid on Coldwater Creek The Spa services or in Outlet stores.

Find a Coldwater Creek near you.

LA Stage Tix brings the half-price box office to you online. The non-profit organization sells tickets that would otherwise be full price with a small convenience charge ($2 for tickets up to $10, $4 for tickets $10-$20, and $6 for tickets $20+).

You can search for tickets by genre, date, location, venue, opening or closing date. They also sell regular priced tickets. Read more about the organization.

Half-price tickets to see "7 Redneck Cheerleaders", above, at the Elephant Space Theater in Santa Monica are $10 to $12.50. The play tells the story of a "small-town boy's attempt to win a cheerleader's heart."

The site gets tickets for LA Opera, LA Master Chorale, East West Players, A Noise Within, La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts, Geffen Playhouse and UCLA Live, among others. New tickets are added at random so you have to check their site frequently for deals or sign up for their email newsletter.

Caveats: No refunds, seats are not necessarily together. Thanks, Lynda!

Get five free samples from Estee Lauder with any purchase now until 9 am PST Friday, August 22, 2008. You get to choose from 15 perfumes, creams, makeup items and cleansers in sample sizes.

I would stay away from the lip gloss and powder compact because if the shades don't match your skin it is a total waste.

This little extra makes it a good time to stock up on any Estee Lauder products you already buy. But don't delay because the clock is ticking!

Shipping is free on purchases of $50 or more.

Well I didn't quite miss blogging as much as I thought I would during my family reunion in the wild, wild, woods up north but that's probably because I was busy playing Indian poker, organizing a water balloon fight, chasing waves, poking a beached whale (long dead), watching the campfire, singing songs, playing canasta, making a tie-dye shirt, catching frogs with my bare hands, beating my cousin and Hubby at beer pong, teasing my Uncle, and eating candy.

The only one who cried when it was time to go was Anna, the 4-year-old daughter of my cousin Stephen, after she tried unsuccessfully to sneak back into the main cabin and stow away for a few more days of fun. But I suspect many others wished they could have turned back the clock a few days and done it all again.

My 6-year old nephew, pictured above trying to give his cousin a wet willy, summed it up best when he asked his Mom when the next family reunion was. Before she could answer he said, "I hope it's next month." Me, too.

I'm glad I was watching the Olympics last night - not just for the awing displays of speed and brawn - but because I saw an Old Navy commercial that said adult jeans are $12 and kids jeans are $7 this Saturday, August 23 only!

The Old Navy Web site has scant details but what I hear is that there is a 3 pair limit per person. The jeans on super sale are normally $20 to $30. Looks like only certain styles are being sold for $7 and $12, not every single pair. Sale jeans are usually about $25 at Old Navy. Please share details if you have them!

This sale is a great way to get back to school jeans without great expense, assuming you can find a pair that fits. The sale is only in stores. Find an Old Navy near you.

(not my actual lunch) I'm not a hot dog person, but getting a Lincoln Lunch at The Stand in Woodland Hills has been on my list of places to check out for awhile. I walked to their newish Woodland Hills location with two colleagues and found a bustling eatery with a menu that seemed expansive considering they sell hot dogs.

Turns out these folks take hot dogs very seriously. Dogs with bleu cheese, dogs with neon relish, dogs with baked beans and a handful of classics. They also sell burgers, sandwiches, and salads. Alcohol sales are pending.

The line was long but moved quickly. After you order and pay they give you a buzzer and you seat yourself. The buzzer lights up when your food is ready, which helps servers find you and deliver your grub.

We snagged one of two booths inside, which is a bit loud. There is outside seating, too.

My $4.50 Chili dog came very fast. It was hot and loaded with chili, diced onions, cheese and tomatoes. The white bun was warm and very fluffy. The dog snapped when I bit into it and was overall very tasty, but nothing to daydream about. A heap of crispy potato chips rounded out my meal.

The Stand has a pickle bar much like fresh Mex places have salsa bars. Other Lincoln Lunch options include the Stand dog, all but one of their "classic" dogs, two different sausage dogs, a chili-slaw dog and a chili cheese knish.

I would go back to The Stand because the food was good and very quick. My only real criticism is that the line was disorganized and hungry customers ended up getting in the way of servers delivering food to tables outside and customers exiting the restaurant. A few lane lines would have made everyone happier.

Visit them at 5780 Canoga Ave in Woodland Hills. (818) 710-0400. They also have locations in Encino, Westwood Village and Century City. Look out for their $1 dog night Mondays in Encino!

Are you getting ripped off? Do you suspect some big box mega-company is screwing you? Then check out the Consumerist.com, a blog full of consumer woes, service complaints, and news about the little guy getting screwed.

How uplifting! They say they are "consumer-biased" because they believe good customer service is not just good policy but saves money.

A recent post is about United Airlines clamping down on handing out free food on nearly all coach flights starting September 2. "The San Francisco Chronicle is reporting that United Airlines will no longer offer free snacks in coach...They are also dropping complimentary meals in business class except for "premium transcontinental flights from San Francisco and Los Angeles to New York." Shockingly, this move coincides with the airlines' expansion of their "buy-on-board" food offerings, says the Chronicle."

Another post shines the light on bad consumers, who appear to be guilty in the theft of 5,000 gallons of gasoline from a station in Wauwatosa.

The site also has tips for tracking down a phone number and email for higher ups at any company, for when you need to file a complaint or get to a supervisor.

The Consumerist is part of the Gawker blog network, which also includes Gizmodo, Defamer, Wonkette, and Gawker.

The Bargain Hunter has a new Web address. It is blogs.dailynews.com/bargain. A few more letters, but it takes you to the same place as www.insidesocal.com/bargain does.

The new address explains that the Bargain Hunter is a Daily News blog (which the folks at the top like). And nobody got what "inside so cal" was anyway.

The change means that when you read the Tuesday Bargain Hunter column in the paper, references to the Bargain Hunter Web site will have this new address. I'll also use it on the site itself. Other than that, not much is different.

Here is a list of 26 "fabulous freebies" from personal finance site Kiplinger.com. The story is a laundry list of where to get free music, books, software, ATM withdrawals, college courses, kids meals, and on and on.

I'm going to print out a list to refer to from time to time. For now gere are some of the best freebies from the list.

"FREE BUDGETING - Looking for help keeping tabs on your budget? You don't have to shell out for Quicken or Microsoft Money software. Track your spending instead through the free service at Wesabe.com. You enter your accounts to organize your spending into different categories on one convenient site.

Wesabe will also help you pinpoint areas where you could improve, and lets you get feedback from other Wesabe users, all while protecting your passwords, identity and other sensitive information."

"FREE INTERNET SERVICE - Even after you've upgraded to broadband Internet, it's a good idea to have a back-up dial-up service on your computer for when the cable goes out or your DSL acts up. NetZero, for example, still offers a free version of its software -- ten free hours per month."

"FREE LEGAL ADVICE - You don't need to hire a lawyer to handle many routine legal matters. All you need is...

Buy two bras and get one free at Macy's starting Thursday, August 21 through Monday, September 1. As part of the sale certain Macy's stores will be having bra fitting experts on hand.

The lingerie sale includes the above deal on bras, plus buy three panties get one free, buy one shape wear get one 50% off and 25% off Jockey.

A tan and white Luleh bra with lace stitching has a snug, seamless fit for tight fitting clothes. It is $27 (orig $36).

Get an extra 10% off sale and clearance intimates with your Macy's card or a coupon that was mailed last week. If I find a link to it I will post it!

If you can't make it into a store while their fit experts are there, check out their online fit guide, including tips for "perfecting performance." That's your bra's performance, not the performance of your boobs, though the two are closely related.

Find a Macy's near you. Unclear if the sale is also online. Some intimates are already discounted, others may not yet be marked down because the sale starts tomorrow.

Get 50% off tickets to the Hollywood Bowl for the Sept. 3 Bossa Nova concert, which features a number of special guests. One of them, Luciana Souza, I have seen perform twice and she is amazing (pictured above).

When I checked this morning, tickets in the N1 section, which is prime seating, were $12.50 (orig $25) with a $4.75 convenience charge per ticket. It looks like this section is the only one with the 50% off discount, but perhaps other sections will have prices slashed when they sell out N1. Look at a seating chart here.

To get the discounted tickets, go the to bowl's Web site, select the Sept 3 Bossa Nova concert, select the number of tickets you want under "Special Internet Offer" and enter the word BOWL in the box next to the ticket price.

Could be a great way to squeeze in one last concert under the stars in before reality hits that summer is nearly over.

Spa Week is September 15 to 21 on the West Coast and October 13 to 19 in the Midwest and East Coast. If you don't know about Spa Week, hundreds of spas across the country offer two or three services (their choice) for $50.

It's basically a way to get you in the door and try something new. Treatments may include massages, facials, scrubs, manicures, pedicures, and more exotic options.

Visit Spaweek.org to check what treatments are available and make an appointment. Log in or register to access the spa week appointments. The $50 treatments are listed under the name of each spa in pink. Book your appointment now to guarantee a $50 treatment.

Here are all the deals mentioned in today's column.

Grocery basics

Staples freebies

Salon tips (cheap haircuts, makeup tips, perfect lipstick color)

Early xmas

99-cent pie

Daily deal

Lincoln lunch: sushi

Pretty much everyone wants fast Internet service at home and has a cell phone. To save money a lot of folks are putting these two services ahead of a land line. Take my friend Maggie.

"I need new internet service and I don't know where to start," she writes me. "Basically I want to save money paying ONLY for internet, and not DSL + the phone line. I don't need a land line, so while I'm cutting costs I figured this was one good place to do it!"

So what are your best bets for Internet service without paying for a land line? I started by looking at a chart on MyRatePlan.com that explains the differences between dial-up, DSL, Cable, and Satellite Internet service.

When I got overwhelmed I called Bill Belt, a knowledgeable director at the Consumer Electronics Association. There are actually six types of internet connections available to residents and he talked me through all of them, from fastest to slowest.

First he reassured me that my confusion was a good thing. "It's a sign of how much competition is in the market," Bill said. "The more choices they have...that service is generally going to be better and the price is going to be cheaper."

Competition gives consumers...

I'm heading into the forests of Northern California today for a four-day family reunion and some badly needed R&R.

About 40 members of my extended clan will be getting together for games, s'mores and family feuds. I mean, family fun!

I'll be back Wednesday so today's digest will be the last one until then. See you! ~Julia

Starting Sunday, Staples has some freebie back to school items. At the store near me the offer includes a free 8-pack of No. 2 pencils and a free 12 inch plastic ruler. This particular deal is valid Sunday, August 17 through Saturday, August 23.

The offer for the week ending Saturday, August 16 includes a free four ounce bottle of Elmer's glue.

To find if the Staples near you has this deal (or other freebies), go to the Staples Web site, then click "Weekly Ad" to see the current week's deals. Enter your zip code and click on "Sneak Peek" for upcoming deals.

My local Staples also has plastic binders are a quarter, plastic report covers are 20 cents each and assorted pencil boxes are 50 cents each.

I'm told the stores are collecting school supplies for needy kids in a bin as part of the Do Something movement. Just something to keep in mind. Find a Staples near you. Thanks, Karin!

About six months ago I posted My Nitty Gritty Grocery List with the best prices for 35 staple items on my food list. Since then prices have risen significantly and there is a new entry into the grocery world. Fresh & Easy, the British grocery chain, recently opened in Van Nuys. They have many stores through Southern California.

So I checked out the prices at Fresh & Easy and compared them to prices at Trader Joe's and Food 4 Less, the two stores that overall had the best prices from the last time I compared prices. Sorry, Vons!

I found, however, that prices during sales at major grocery chains (Vons, Ralphs, and Albertsons) often beat TJs, F4L, and FE, so don't discount them all together. This is especially true for meat and items that frequently go on sale at the chains, which are marked with a star.

I did not have time to update my list with Costco prices, so if you shop there please do your own comparison. As always, prices change very quickly so if you see a good price, make room in your freezer and stock up!

To view my updated Nitty Gritty Grocery List click here. Print it out and stash it in your pocketbook for a quick reference when you shop.

Get 25% off your entire purchase at Talbots during their family and friends sale, which starts today and ends Monday, August 18, 2008. It is good online, by phone and in Talbots stores and outlets in the USA and Canada.

Print the coupon here. Online use code Friends (not sure if it is case sensitive). Over the phone (800-825-2687) mention code Friends.

Before the discount a dark green clasp necklace is $68. A cute shorty trench coat, above, comes in five colors and is $148.

Caveats: Not valid at Talbots Kids and Mens stores in liquidation. Not valid on previous purchases or gift cards. May not be combined with any other offer except free shipping. Thanks, Maggie!

Get 25% off any one item at Sports Authority with many brand exclusions. The coupon expires Sunday, August 17. Use code TSAFFAUG when checking out. Good for Jansport backpacks, many running shoes, and clothes, among other items. Online only.

A classic two-pocket JanSport backpack, above, is $22.50 (orig $44, on sale for $30) with the discount.

Caveats: Not applicable to canceled orders due to out-of-stock merchandise, returned merchandise, cannot be combined with any other promotional offer, not valid on previous purchases. Entire order must be shipped to a single address and customer is responsible for all shipping costs for returned merchandise. Select electronics/optics, select fitness equipment, select table games, and trampolines & accessories are excluded along with the following brands: Adams Golf, adidas Golf, asics, Atec, Baby Jogger, BagBoy, Bauer, Bowflex, Bridgestone, Callaway, Carhartt, Cat Eye, Cleveland Golf, Cobra, Crocs, DeMarini, Easton, Ektelon, Escape, Fitness Quest, Footjoy, Head, Heavy Putter, Horizon, Huffy, Jugs, K2, Kettler, K-Swiss, Lifetime, Lobster, Louisville Slugger, MacGregor, Magnum, Mammoth, MBT, Miken Sports, Mission, Mizuno, Nike, Nike Golf, Oakley, Prince, Pro Feet, Rawlings, Razors, Rollerblade, Salomon, Skycaddie, Sole, Spalding, TaylorMade, The North Face, Thule, Titleist, Trend Sports, Under Armour, Wilson Racquet, Worth, and Yakima.

The latest data from the Consumer Price Index, which represents the change in prices for everyday consumer goods like food, transportation and housing, rose .8 percent from June to July.

The bureau of labor statistics in the U.S. department of labor tracks the CPI, also known as inflation, which is a key indicator of economic health.

Compared to a year ago, the CPI is 5.6 percent higher nationwide, according to a story in the Boston Globe.

Have your paycheck or stocks risen that much? Ha!

If you want to get a jump on your holiday shopping, a Christmas sale run by the non-profit Assistance League of Glendale starts next week, says Natalie, an organizer who told me about the sale. They will have new and used ornaments, decorations, holiday sweaters and winter clothing, silver serving pieces, children's toys, linens and other holiday paraphernalia.

Ornaments are 10-cents to $10. A three-piece Silver plated casserole dish with a lid and a Pyrex liner (to cook the dish in the oven) is $25. A pair of sterling silver candle holders are $20. A glass punch bowl with 8 cups is $5. An embroidered white tablecloth with matching napkins is $10. Decorative tins are 25-cents to $1.

The items they are selling are donated by league members and the community. Everything that does not sell will be sold in the group's thrift shop, which is next door to the main sale.

The Christmas sale is Thursday, August 21 from 10am to 3pm, Friday August 22 from 10am to 3pm AND 5pm to 7pm, and Saturday from 10am to 3pm. It is being held at 314 E. Harvard Street in Glendale.

Free parking in an adjacent lot. Cash, checks and credit cards. Prices are firm. Proceeds support the league's programs, such as Operation School Bell, which provides clothing for need local children.

All summer sandals are 15% off at Shoes.com now through August 27, 2008. The discount works with regular and sale pairs. Use code SANDALS08 when checking out. Not sure if the code is case sensitive.

Perhaps you can use this while back to school shopping! Before the discount a pair of women's wedge slides with leather crossover straps by Onex, above, are $70.

Browse women's sandals, men's sandals and kid's sandals.

Get a 99-cent slice of pie at Marie Callender's when you order an entree and drink at participating locations. The special pricing is part of their 60th anniversary celebration and lasts until September 25, a PR rep tells me.

Caveats: excludes fresh fruit pies and cheesecakes. Cannot be combined with other discounts or deals. One per person.

Find a Marie Callender's near you.

The sharp-eyed Frugal Dad blogger noticed that some companies are changing product sizes without lowering prices. It's one way to survive the tough economy, I suppose.

"In some cases, the price has even gone up while the quantities have gone down," he writes. "This has been going on for some time, but the latest reductions in product size has been more drastic, and come at a time when consumers are already feeling the pinch of rising food and gas prices."

Frugal Dad claims Starkist Tuna, El Paso Seasoning Mixes, and Folgers Coffee are guilty of this practice.

So what can you do about it? When you are at the grocery store be aware sizes may be different, check unit prices and do the math. Bulk is usually cheaper but not always. It helps if you shop with a pen or pencil.

In case you missed my recent post about getting myself into a bargain bind, I ordered a box of checks using a deal for first time customers even though I had ordered with the company, Checks Unlimited, before.

I was at a new address so it seemed fair to think I was eligible for the lower price. If not, surely the company would return my check for $6.50.

As it turned out, they cashed my check, sent me the checks I ordered, then mailed me a bill for another $12.20. Drat! What to do? What to do?

Many readers chided me (to put it nicely) for trying to pull one over the check company. Read their comments here. A few shared their tips for getting loyalty-type discounts on par with new-customer discounts. One in particular recommended I call the company and explain my case.

Unfortunately, both customer service numbers for the company have been busy for the past three days.

So I am writing them a letter.

I'm going to explain my intentions, ask them to forgive my misunderstanding, and politely request they honor the lower price. I am a loyal customer, after all. I'll offer to return the checks if this does not still well with them. But if push comes to shove, I may pay the extra $12.20 they are asking for and call it a day.

Makeup, brushes and tools are all $1 at e.l.f.. The first time I blogged about this site I was pretty amazed, but one reader immediately burst my bubble.

"This make-up is terrible, it's only a $1.00, because it's barely worth that.....i purchased a lot and threw it all away...."

I have not bought anything from e.l.f. but I still think this $1 makeup may not be a bad idea for certain occasions. Why pay more when you need bizarre colors to go with a costume, have to fill gift bags, want to test out a new shade, or are in need of disposable tools?

A set of four powder puffs, above, are $1. Lip gloss sold in tiny tins are $1 each. Many items, like makeup kits, cases, bath supplies are much more than $1, including a $20 mineral powder starter kit.

Get $2 shipping at e.l.f. on orders of $25 or more until August 31, 2008. Use code EGSHIPT.

This is LA so I had to! Well, actually I didn't have to, but who can resist these eye-popping pictures of famous glamor gals looking incredibly blotchy and tired and...regular.

Some of them are so drastic that I bet if you cover the "done up" picture on the right you won't even recognize who they are!

The risk factor is higher than going to your local, trusted salon, but keep beauty schools in mind when you want to save a buck. They often offer discounted services for cuts, makeup, and nails. How else are their students going to learn?

Find a local beauty school near you at BeautySchoolsDirectory.com.

Some questions to keep in mind when you call your local beauty school:
+ What services do they offer and at what price?
+ How much experience does the technician you are making an appointment with have?
+ Do they have experience cutting hair that is curly/thick/thin (or whatever type hair you have)
+ How long will the cut take? (if it is during a class, it may take longer than usual)
+ What happens if you are unhappy with the result?

Readers in LA might remember last year I blogged about the Paul Mitchell school in Sherman Oaks, where students give hair cuts for $12. Make an appointment at (818) 380-8120.

On the second Thursday of every month more than two dozen art galleries and museums open their doors to visitors for free from noon to 9pm as part of the Downtown Art Walk.

The next one is tomorrow, Thursday August 14. Download a map of participating galleries, including phone numbers and addresses. A free shuttle called the Hippodrome, above, carries visitors along some of the route between 6 and 10pm.

Participating galleries include The Museum of Contemporary Art, LA Artcore Center, Museum of Neon Art, Fifty/24 Gallery, and the Downtown Art Center Gallery.

I hear it's lot of fun with music, people watching, and great art. Thanks, Hubby!

Here's a 10-step guide to the basics of putting on makeup. It is a good place to start, though some of the steps you can skip, like if you don't want to darken your eyebrows.

The guide has good tips, like if you have to blend in blush, it's too bright. If you find the 10-steps too vague there are links to more specific makeup topics. Some of the best are below.

How to choose a lipstick color ("Choose a color that complements the natural shade of your lips and skin. Plums, wines and deep reds flatter a dark skin tone, while light-brown beiges with pink or orange undertones complement a lighter skin tone. Olive skin looks good with brownish reds, light browns and raisin shades of lipstick.")

How to apply makeup for photographs

How to achieve a natural look with makeup (chose shades that closely match you skin tone and use earthy shades on your eyes)

How to give makeup as a gift (chose a variety of tones or stick to items like brushes, cases, a small vanity mirror or gift certificate).

As I mentioned in a post earlier today, a few weeks ago I went to the MAC store to get my makeup done for a new Bargain Hunter photo. (A formal job costs $50 but on a slow day you can usually talk a salesperson into quickly showing you a few things. It helps if you make it clear you are interesting in buying some products.)

While the saleswoman was making me up she had me hold a mirror up so I could see exactly what she was doing. She also explained every step along the way. Here are some of the best tips I learned from her.

+ When choosing a foundation or powder to even out your skin, match the shade to your neck, not your face.

+ Applying foundation or powder with a brush will leave a lighter coat than applying with a foam pad.

+ When applying eye shadow start by...

It seems many gals have a complex about makeup. I discovered this after chatting with my former neighbor who always looks perfectly done up. I was telling her about how I had talked a MAC saleswoman into painting my face because I had to get my Bargain Hunter photo redone (new pic on the left).

When I confessed to my friend that I knew next to nothing about eye shadow and mineral powder, she gushed that she, too, was clueless about makeup. But she always looks so good!

So I decided to do a theme day about make up that combined deals with tips. I hope you enjoy. As always, shoot me your idea for a theme by emailing me.

One of the many ramifications of the Russian-Georgian conflict could be higher gas prices, according to a sidebar that ran with an AP story in today's paper.

"Oil traders on Monday shrugged off Russia's widening invasion of neighboring Georgia, but if the conflict spreads further it could threaten nearly 1 million barrels per day of needed global crude supplies from the Caspian Sea, most of it bound for Europe," the sidebar says.

For the past month crude oil prices have been falling and so have gasoline prices. But watch out because the slightest hint of a threat can send the price of crude through the roof. And gas prices always seem to rise quicker than they drop.

Find the best gas prices near you using this MSN map which is based on prices from more than 90,000 gas stations across the nation. And don't wait too long to fill up!

Navigating the blog can be confusing because of all the links and information on the site. I hope this site map makes it easier to find what you are looking for. I provided links to the info when they were available.

After this post gets bumped down by newer ones, look for a link to the Site Map on the right column in the section labeled How Do I...

Homepage

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Get free shipping at JC Penney online when your tab totals $49 or more. Expires August 15, 2008. Use promo code 28FSH when checking out. Not a bad way to save on back to school shopping!

A lot of their back to school clothes are on sale, including jeans for juniors. Many pairs are $30 that were originally $40+, like this pair of Fabulously Back Pocket jeans with gold flecks decorating the front. They are $30 (orig $44).

Caveats: Good on orders shipped within the 48 contiguous United States (excludes Alaska, Hawaii & Puerto Rico) by standard delivery. The following purchases do not qualify for this offer nor toward the $49 purchase amount required: truck or express deliveries, clearance/outlet prices, Jodee Catalog, Sephora.com, Teleflora, taxes, services, prior purchases, orders currently being processed. Cannot be used with any other offers.

Find a JC Penney near you.

Get a free movie rental from Redbox (usually $1) every Wednesday in August when you sign up for their e-mail list. Then they text you a coupon code every Wednesday.

If you have not rented from a Redbox before the selection is limited. The one near my house has about three dozen choices. Browse the selection online. You can also reserve a movie online to be picked up at a certain Redbox.

It costs a $1 per day to rent a movie. Read more about how it works.

Redboxes are usually stationed in grocery stores or other big box chains. Find a Redbox near you.

Never thought I'd be able to get a sushi Lincoln Lunch, what I call a $5 lunch because Lincoln is on the fiver. Then I went to the new Fresh & Easy grocery store in Van Nuys.

I went to compare their prices to Trader Joe's, Vons, Costco and Food 4 Less, which I will blog about soon. While there I was enticed by an open fridge near the check out area that offered prepared meals.

Medium sized pre-made salads were $3.29 to $4.29. Tuna, ham and egg salad sandwiches were $2.49 to $2.99. Trays of California rolls and other sushi items were $2.99 to $4.99. They also had a baked potato and couscous with raisins.

I opted for the sushi. Adventurous, perhaps, but the pay off could be big. I snagged a tray from the back that had six spicy California rolls and two pieces of tuna sushi for $5. The rolls were decent. Certainly I've had much better but for the price I felt it was entirely acceptable and a good solution for those who crave sushi more often than they can afford it.

The tuna sushi was very edible. I prefer sashimi, fish without the rice underneath, so I peeled off the bright red flesh, dipped it in soy sauce, and plopped it into my mouth. The fish had a very soft texture, bordering on mushy. Not the brightest flavor, but tasty enough that I ate the second piece.

My sushi tray came with ample soy sauce, pickled ginger and wasabi. I enjoyed eating with the collapsible chop sticks so much that I considered saving them. All in all, not a bad option if you are in the neighborhood.

Visit them at 15230 Vanowen Street in Van Nuys. (818) 902-0635. Remember to check back later to see how Fresh & Easy prices compare to other grocers!

Here are all the deals mentioned in today's column.

Half price theater

Dinner deal

Lucky finds

Lincoln Lunch map

Lane Bryant $50 off

Lincoln Lunch: Vietnamese

A veteran bargain hunter came to for a visit this weekend - my mother-in-law. We were making dinner Friday night when she saw me set a few broccoli stems aside for the trash. She chided me when I told her we usually just eat the crowns.

"You're the bargain hunter?" she teased, grabbing the stems. She shaved off the outer skin and offered me a whitish slice of the inner core. It was tender and delicious.

"I do know a thing or two about bargain hunting," I told her as we prepared the rest of the stems for the steamer. "But I'm the first to admit I have a lot to learn."

Which is why I knew my mother-in-law's suggestion that we visit the Rose Bowl flea market Sunday was a good idea. She has been scouring flea markets and estate sales for years. I have not.

We arrived later than planned, at 10:30 a.m., hours after hard core shoppers had picked over the best merchandise. But, I reasoned, sellers may be more willing to negotiate.

The array of tables and selection of merchandise was dizzying. High heels by Janice and Chinese Laundry were $5 to $10, lacquered Russian dolls and boxes ran into the hundreds, vintage silk scarves were $1, a shabby chic dresser was $585, sunglasses were 2 for $5, Vans were $20 each or 2 for $15. There was a glut of floppy hats, sun dresses, used clothes, and junk.

High end sellers mixed freely with low end merchants. As one seller said, "It's either made in China or made by artisans." Either way, everyone is just trying to get by.

Prices and quality could vary greatly at a single table. At Erica Koesler's jewelry table, delicate necklaces with a single stone were as much as $95. But on a clearance table at the back of her booth I found a pair of citrine earrings for $5. She wouldn't come down at all, but I felt it was a fair price and forked over a fiver without much hesitation.

The antique section went on and on. A massive taxidermied moose...

Catch these free summer concerts at The Americana at Brand in Glendale and The Grove in LA each Wednesday this month. Just be sure not to blow a wad at the mall while you are there!

August 13 - Steve Tyrell at The Americana at Brand in Glendale, CA
August 20 - The Temptations at The Grove
August 27 - Ashanti at The Grove

Concerts start 8 pm.

The Chick's Sporting Goods tent sale is on! Check out the huge tents outside each store for sale clothes and gear, and remember to pick up anything your kids may need for sports when they go back to school. Men, women, and kid's beachwear, fashion swimwear, and flip flops are 25-50% off, men and boys beach/skate T-shirts are $10-$11, shoes for men, women and children are up to 50% off.

Wake boards and water skis are up to 40% off, back to school day packs are up to 30% off, soccer packages including shoes, shin guards and a ball start at $31. Sunbelt eyewear is 30% off, Nike timing watches are 25%. Selected MLB, NFL NBA and NCAA apparel is up to 50% off. Snow board apparel is up to 50% off.

Look for "special" pricing on some ping pong tables and accessories and Wilson tennis balls. The sale ends August 17.

Hours during the tent sale are Monday to Friday 9am to 9pm, Saturday 9am to 8pm, and Sunday 10 am to 6pm. Find a Chick's near you. Thanks, Sue!

Here's a new Web site that pays shoppers who find the best deals online, literally. BeatThat.com gives members $2 for every deal the site approves as lower than what's already listed on the site.

BeatThat.com is entirely member driven. Stores selling items are rated for safety and reliability using different colored flags. Green, yellow and red. You can guess which means what.

There are a few rules about which deals are eligible for the $2 payback. Deals must be for new products, no refurbished or returned items. The merchant must have the product in stock. Deals must be in US Dollars and the merchant must accept credit cards for payment. The final cost must include shipping cost to a US zip code. Rebates/coupons/discount programs are acceptable, but must be accessible to all shoppers.

Seems like the site still has a few kinks to get out. When I clicked on a deal showing an HP printer for $47.97, much lower than the $123 list price, it re-directed me to a page that had the lowest price of $57 from a different seller. Perhaps the original discount seller already sold out.

Just a reminder that the El Torito restaurant chain has 99-cent steak, chicken and carnitas tacos every Tuesday from 4 to 10pm when you sit in the Cantina.

El Torito's regular weekday happy hour is from 4 to 8pm with half-price appetizers, $3.95 house margaritas, $4.25 fruit margaritas, domestic draft beers are $3, $3.50 glasses of house chardonnay, and $3 well drinks.

Find an El Torito near you. They have locations in California, Nevada and Arizona.

A lot of folks are heading to discounters like Target or the 99-cent store to find school supplies to suit a trim budget.

But big box stores like Staples, Office Depot and Office Max are working hard to keep up. So don't discount those options (no pun intended) when searching for the best deals.

One reader recently shared the fabulous deals he found at Staples. "A bargain hunter myself...I found the following Staples "back to school" specials super good deals. Six spiral bound notebooks in a pack for 30C....yep, just 5C each. Peechee folders for reports with two pockets in asst colors....Ten FREE and then 10C each if you want more. (I took the 10 free). I walked out with two bags of stuff for $1.72...mostly stuff for the grandkids. Whoopeee!"

Thanks, Pete! I hope other readers have as much luck finding a bargain.

The customer is always right, right? Not on NotAlwaysRight.com, a brilliant and funny site that collects customer service mishaps from around the globe. Here's a recent post:

Now You Know How We Feel
Bed & Bath Store | New York, USA

(It's Sunday and I'm dressed up because I just came from church. I'm shopping at the local bed and bath store.)

Customer: "Excuse me? Where are the curtain rods?"

Me: "I'm sorry, ma'am, but I don't work here."

Customer: "Excuse me?!"

Me: "I don't work here, ma'am, so I don't know where the curtain rods are. I can help you find someone who does, though."

Customer: "This is unacceptable. Show me where the curtain rods are."

Me: "I hate to break this to you, but I really don't work here. I think there is a help desk over there, though."

Customer: *calls husband over* "Can you set her straight? I'm trying to find curtain rods and she refuses to help me!"

Husband: "Look, you are getting paid far to much money to be...

I've eaten a lot of cheap lunches around the Valley in my time as the Bargain Hunter. Now you can find a Lincoln Lunch, what I call a $5 meal because ol' Prez Lincoln is on the fiver, by looking at this map. Click on a red marker to read my write up on a restaurant.

The map lets you add a marker so please share your own cheap eats! See directions below.

I hope you will come back to this map when you are looking for a Lincoln Lunch in the future. Here's how to share your own cheap lunch:

1. Click the 'Add' button located in the upper right corner of the map. Please choose a marker color other than red.
2. Under 'Title,' enter the restaurant name.
3. Below 'Title,' enter the and full address, phone number, Web site. You will need a zip code.
4. Click 'Details' and share your experience at the restaurant. What did you order? How did the food taste? What kind of service did you get? What did the place look like? How much was your bill?
5. Click 'Submit' and you're done

Vista Print offers free business cards, lawn signs, letterhead, return address labels, car magnets and a few other office supply items. The catch is that it is a 24 hour sale that sale ends today. You pay for shipping and processing, upgrades, and photo/logo uploads.

*So the whole thing may end up being cheap, but not entirely free. See all the "free" offers here or look below for individual deals.

Shipping on one pad of stickies with my name was $3.91 for 21 days with quicker, more expensive options.

Caveats: Discounts valid only on lowest quantity of each product. Discounts not valid on previous purchases or in combination with any other offers. Free offers are not valid on any more than 10 items per order.

Free business cards
Free postcards
1 Free T-shirt
Free lawn signs
Free invitations and announcements
Free pens
Free letterhead
1 Free stamp
Free car door magnets
Free return address labels
1 Free sticky note pad
Free note cards

Macys online shoe clearance has uber-low prices on dozens of pairs of flats, heels, sandals and more. You can shop by price: $29 and under, $39 and under, and $49 and under, or look at them all at once.

Strappy Greek-inspired gladiator sandals are supposed to be in this summer. Here's a pair for $34 (orig $49) that have two adjustable ankle straps and a flat sole.

I like this pair of black peep-toe heels from Chinese Laundry, above, for $28 (orig $69). Only problem is they only come in size 7. Women with small feet are to be envied. They have many more options at shoe sales.

A black slide with a large buckle over the toes from Bandolino is $30 (orig $59). It comes in many sizes.

Don't forget to check out their clearance handbags.

(not my actual lunch) Forgive me if I sound like I am gloating but I just had a $3.50 lunch that was fabulous and included dessert.

I stumbled upon Van Sandwiches while cruising Sherman Way recently and remembered a place in San Gabriel where I had a very tasty Vietnamese sandwich. Would Van Sandwiches deliver the same experience that qualified as a Lincoln Lunch?

No, as it turned out. My meal was even better.

We were greeted by a pile of huge Jack Fruit melons, which are the size of large watermelons and are covered in pea-like beads. On the floor next to the melons was a small shrine that offered cigarette butts to a white-haired God.

My dining companion stopped in her tracks when she saw a "B" sign in the doorway but I waved her in. Secretly, though, I had my own worries. On either side of the register, two tables offered shrink-wrapped trays of...

I may be the only one who thinks this is super cool, but given the Olympics officially start tomorrow, I'm hoping many folks have sports on the brain.

A two-page spread in the Sunday's NY Times magazine has vital stats on six US Olympic athletes, a shot-putter, track star, weight lifter, rower, track cyclist and marathoner. Some of the stats are mind blowing.

The 6'5" shot-putter can bench press 635 pounds and squat 650 pounds. He says, "I'm good at improving my upper body - my triceps and back and chest. I used to do it for the chicks, but now I do it to be good at my sport. It's kind of cool how that's worked out."

The track star is chiseled above the waist and spindly legs. His percentage body fat? That'd be eight.

The female weight lifter is a truck, carrying 300 pounds on her 5'9" frame. She can jump 30" straight up and her thighs are 32" around. She says, "When I say that my thighs are 32 inches, they're really hard all of the way around, and my butt is huge from squatting all the time."

The rower looks the most normal among this super-fit crowd. But he eats...

A colleague asks me if food prices are going to start coming down because gas prices have dipped 26 cents nationwide in the past four weeks. What a hoot!

When I bought groceries a few days ago prices seemed as high as ever - $4 for a dozen eggs, $7 for a gallon of organic milk - but the best indicator of where food prices are going will come out on August 14.

That's when the Bureau of Labor Statistics in the U.S. Department of Labor releases the consumer price index for July. The CPI reflects price changes for a variety of typical consumer goods and services.

In the meantime, the news indicates people are still desperate to cut back on their grocery tab. Sales at Wal-mart rose 3% in July, partly due to higher food sales. Sales at existing Costco warehouses rose 10% last month due to higher gasoline sales and consumers trying to cash in on bulk discounts.

In Japan people are switching to a more traditional diet as Western food prices soar, according to a story from the UK Telegraph.

Get $50 off a $150 purchase, $25 off a $75 purchase or $75 off a $225 purchase at Lane Bryant now until August 14, 2008. Print the coupon here. Online use code 050002733.

Many tops are buy one, get a second for 50% off, like this cotton screen print T-shirt with a notched neck, above.

Caveats: one per customer. Not valid on Lane Bryant Outlet or Catalog or lanebryantcatalog.com. Certain brands, like Spanx, Fantasie or Goddess, are excluded. Check the fine print for all exceptions. May not be combined with free shipping.

Find a Lane Bryant near you.

Get 25% off your entire order at Linens N' Things today through Sunday, August 10, 2008 as part of their family and friends sale. In stores use this printable coupon. It is a pdf so give it plenty of time to load. Online get the same discount with code FFAUG08. The coupon is not valid at closing stores.

LNT has many dorm deals and a $40 iPod clock radio after a $30 mail-in rebate. Don't forget to check out their clearance center.

Caveats: One coupon per customer. Coupon must be surrendered at time of purchase. Cannot be used on Linens 'n Things Gift Cards. Cannot be combined with any other coupon or offer. Coupon not valid towards previous purchases and cannot be used with Linens 'n Things credit card first purchase offer. Other restrictions may apply.

Find a Linens 'n Things near you. They are in every state but Wyoming.

A collection of a dozen cotton bras are 2 for $40 at Victoria's Secret, plus select casual pants are 2 for $50 now until Friday, August 8. Use code PANT50 at checkout. Select sweaters are 2f for $50 using code SWEATER50. Expires August 8.

A lightly padded plunge bra is 2 for $40 and comes in many different colors and patterns. Matching underwear is 5 for $25. Nervous about buying a bra online? Check out VS's fitting room.

Caveats: Neither 2/$50 code is valid on previous purchases or Victoria's Secret store purchases. For orders outside the U.S. additional taxes and duties may apply.

You can also get $15 off a $100 order, $30 off a $150 order, $75 off a $250 order or $150 off a $500 order through September 3, 2008. Use code FALL08 at checkout. The discount will automatically be deducted from eligible orders after you apply the code.

Caveats: Valid on U.S. orders only. Clearance merchandise, gift cards, Egift cards, gift wrap, gift kits, shipping and handling charges and taxes do not qualify toward the minimum purchase. Offer subject to adjustment due to returns, cancellations and exchanges. Not valid on previous purchases, purchases made in Victoria's Secret stores or with other order-level discounts. For orders outside the United States, additional taxes and duties apply.

The Barneys New York warehouse sale starts tomorrow, August 7 in Santa Monica and Thursday, August 14 in New York. Clothing, shoes, accessories and home decor are 50 to 75% off.

Get an extra 10% off when you open a Barneys New York credit card.

In Santa Monica sale hours August 7 and 8 are 8am to 9pm. Saturday is 9am to 7pm. After that the sale is going on weekdays from 10am to 8pm and weekends 10am to 7pm. For more about the New York sale click here.

The sale is at the Barker Hangar at the Santa Monica Air Center, 3021 Airport Ave. (310) 777-5700.

Yesterday's LA.com cover had a big spread on how old school clothes are the newest thing in back to school fashion.

"Oversize clothes and worn-out shoes made generations of schoolchildren cringe, fearing reprisals in the school corridors and a lifetime of psychological scars," the story says. "But times have changed."

Unique, creative, and vintage are in. Writer Emily Henry lists trendy items to look for whether you are perusing vintage racks or a cruising through a department store.

Vintage finds
+ "Tiny-fit shrunken blazers: You can pair them with T-shirt dresses, high-waist skirts, jeans ... you name it."

+ "Grunge revival: Think Courtney Love in the 1990s with her baby-doll dresses and combat boots. Try plaids and flannel prints, mixed with girly skirts and dresses. Look for 1980s and 1990s rompers and suspender dresses."

+ "Tiny-fit feather motorcycle...

A lot of readers email me asking about an item they remember seeing a few days, or weeks ago. How can they find it again?

The best way to find old deals on the Bargain Hunter is to search the archives using the search button on the top right side of the blog homepage (www.insidesocal.com/bargain).

Type a word into the search box that you remember reading in the post - like "Starbucks" or "cell phone" or "baby" - and all the posts with those words will come up. I like to start by searching with just one or two words. If you get too many results, you can narrow it down by searching with additional words.

None of the blog posts ever go away, they just get bumped down by newer posts. So searching the archives may be easier than going back in time, post by post.

Hope that helps!

~Julia

I caught Hubby giggling online last night while getting ready for bed and asked what was going on. Men wrestling in tight clothes? A computer sale? What could it be?

"The best of Craigslist," he said.

"What?"

"You don't know about that?"

Ug. Hubby always knows about way cool sites but forgets to tell me. That's life with an Internet-hipster. (Someone really needs to come up with a term for this. Like your friend who knows about the hottest restaurant or fashion trend, this term describes someone on the online cutting edge. Don't settle for e-hipster, my friends. You can do better than that.)

Anyway, Hubby read me the best of the best of's list and it was quite entertaining. The list appears on the left side of city's page.

Here is a sampling.

need a female companion 4 anything: "I need female at least 18 and no more than 50 years old to spend the day with this summer. I prefer for them to live near Penn Square Mall. If not, then at least somewhere I can ride the city bus to meet them. I also prefer for them to be a city bus rider. One other thing: ABSOLUTELY NO MALES, GUYS, NOR BOYS!!!!!!!!! If you...

Fresh & Easy opens today in Van Nuys on the corner of Vanowen and Sepulveda. The idea behind the store is to sell healthy and fresh food at an affordable price. In size their stores are somewhere between a Trader Joe's and an Albertsons.

A fact sheet on their media page says products sold under the Fresh & Easy store label contain no artificial colors or flavors and no *added* trans fats. Fresh & Easy label eggs are cage-free and all the meat is hormone-free.

The Van Nuys store had an opening ceremony this morning, which I was not able to attend. New stores often have incredible deals to entice customers to come and check them out so be on the look out for specials and coupons. I will share any I come across.

Find a Fresh & Easy near you. The chain is owned by the UK company Tesco.

Seeing how everybody I know - everybody - is having a child or just had one, my baby gift budget is getting hammered. If it were me I would want to receive used clothes because I know gift givers could save money. Plus, it's a way to recycle and be green. But I'm wary about giving used items to others.

Is it okay to buy used baby gear for others? Or only for yourself? Is there any respectable way to ask a person how they feel about receiving used items?

For help I turned to Jen Levinson, a mother of five boys who has built an extended social network through her daily e-mails about parenting resources. She has been to dozens of baby showers.

Talking to Jen, I realized the issue of used baby gear is about as personal as breast feeding in public. Some mothers think nothing of it, others think everything about it is wrong. Then there are a lot of folks who fall in between.

Jen believes it is...

DOUBLE UPDATE: In case there was any doubt in your mind, this coupon is no longer good. Apparently it started as a legitimate coupon that was given out at a new store. Starbucks did not intend for someone to scan it onto a computer and email out to the world, and when that happened they nixed the deal. If you try to use it they will turn you down.

UPDATE: One reader tried using the coupon and was told it was a fake, but got a free drink anyway!

PREVIOUSLY: I owe my bud Kelli for passing on this Starbucks coupon. It is for a free 12 oz iced Frappuccino, iced espresso, iced brew coffee, or iced tea. Print the coupon by clicking on the image of the coupon to your right. Expires August 30, 2008. (I had to shrink it to 30% to get it to fit the page before I printed.)

I suggest printing a bunch right now because this is a totally free deal and that means it is either fake or it will end sooner than you think. I mean, the coupon looks real to me. I'm just skeptical that the local global coffee shop is giving away free drinks from the kindness of its pockets.

Kelli said it worked for her. I'm going to test it out later this morning and will let you know.

Caveats: One per person per transaction. Cannot be combined with other offers.

Find a Starbucks near you. Thanks, Kelli!

Get half price tickets to plays and comedy shows around Los Angeles, courtesy of Plays 411. The discounts are for shows this week. Use promo code 008.

The discounts include $6 tickets to see the 3rd Street Comedy show Friday, Saturday or Sunday night at the Promenade in Santa Monica. They are normally $12.

Tickets to see the "All about Walken Show", which features impersonators of actor Christopher Walken, are $7.50 (orig $15). It is playing in Hollywood.

A production of Ray Bradbury's"Fahrenheit 451," about a government that burns books in the name of homeland security, is playing in Pasadena. Ticket are $10 (orig $20).

Many more plays have discounted tickets. Search all the discounted plays here.

United Airlines is having a big 'ol sale on many flights, mostly with mid-week or Saturday travel days. You must book by Friday, Aug. 8 and travel between August 18 and November 20. The best fares will go quick so don't delay. Here are some sample flights:

+ Los Angeles-San Francisco ... $55
+ Los Angeles-Phoenix ... $57
+ New York City-Orlando ... $85
+ San Francisco - New York City ... $173
+ New Orleans - Chicago ... $160
+ Washington Dulles - Chicago ... $95
+ San Diego-Tampa ... $87
+ Los Angeles-Sacramento ... $62
+ Los Angeles-Rio de Janeiro ... $465

See more low fares.

To find the lowest fares, first search for flights by entering your departure and arrival cities and travel dates. Then scroll down and click on "More Search Options," then "Search by Flexible Dates."

Travel Zoo recommends the following tips to find super low...

Get an extra 20% off the already low prices at Mervyns with a family and friends discount that is good August 6 to 10, 2008. The coupon is good on clothes, shoes, accessories, home decor and more. Print the coupon here. One coupon per transaction.

Caveats: excludes gift cards, gift certificates, Mervyns® Card account payments, previous purchases, price adjustments and mail or phone orders. Excludes JanSport, Levis, Guess, and Hallmark.

Find a Mervyns near you. They have stores in seven states, including CA, NV, UT, ID, AZ, NM and TX.

This Wednesday, August 6 get one free roll of film developed at Walgreens. It can be a single roll of 35mm film or a one-time use camera with 12, 24 or 36 exposures. You get one set of 4 x 6 inch prints and negatives. Bring in this coupon to get the deal.

Caveats: One per customer. In Hawaii valid on August 11 only. Subject to system capacity so get there early.

Find a Walgreens near you. Thanks, Kim!

A colleague insisted I try Joe's O's from Trader Joe's because he said they actually taste better than Cheerios. I was skeptical because I have eaten generic Cheerios before with poor results.

Joe's O's were $3 for 15 oz. A 14 oz box of brand name Cheerios can be had for $2 or even $1.50 on sale with a coupon. So even if Joe's Os end up tasting better I will probably not buy them regularly because they cost more. If you don't watch for sales and don't clip coupons, Joe's O's may be cheaper.

Price differences aside, I was curious if a blind cereal substitution would fool a veteran Cheerio eater like Hubby. I first subjected myself to a similar test, starting with a small bowl of Cheerios. Crispy, crunchy with a mild, oaty flavor that has just a hint of a hint of sweetness.

Second up, a bowl of Joe's O's. They looked very pretty and were slightly shiny with very clean borders around the O's. Super crispy, but the flavor is a little strange. Maybe slightly yeasty? I can't tell. There's no way Hubby won't notice, I'm thinking.

Bringing him a bowl...he started eating.

"So these are the Joe's O's?" Hubby said after the first bite.

"You got one bite in before you noticed!" I said.

"Yes, I noticed on the first bite."

Hubby scooped more cereal into his mouth.

"Better than the generic Albertson's Cheerios," he said. We tried those and couldn't finish the box.

Hubby kept eating.

"They're no Cheerios, but I would eat them." Yes, I can tell by your empty bowl, my dear.

Buy a Starbucks drink in the morning and get any iced grande beverage for $2 after 2 p.m. That's about $2 off some of the pricier drinks, like a latte. You must present your receipt showing you bought something that morning to get the deal.

The deal goes until September 2, according to an AP story.

Deals may be in the works for customers who use Starbucks cards. The global coffeeshop giant has also been experimenting with specials on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. So stay tuned!

Caveats: Limit one drink per receipt. Cannot be combined with any offers or discounts. Not valid at Barnes and Noble Cafes. Find a Starbucks near you. Thanks Nolemon!

Here are all the deals featured in today's new, expanded column.

TCBY $1 cones

School sales

Staycations

Kid money

Daily deal email - Plug in your email at the upper left of this site to get the day's new sales delivered to your inbox!

Smooth sale

Hairy deal

Bargain homes

Lincoln Lunch vegetarian

Faux grass, the kind familiar to mini golfers, lines the entrance to Dr. Hogly Wogly's Tyler Texas BBQ in Van Nuys. As I opened the restaurant door I wondered if the green fur outside was a clue to what type of meal I was about to have inside.

The tiny eatery has high booths, dark paneled wood walls and framed paintings of western landscapes that look like they were new when the restaurant opened 39 years ago. The place is quiet, unassuming, and completely non-ironic.

A server tells me to take any seat and as I scoot into a booth with a surprisingly upright back it occurs to me that already I have inhaled 100 calories in the rich, meaty atmosphere of Dr. Hogly Wogly's.

The menu is brief and strikes me as expensive but when my food comes the price makes sense. At Hogly Wogly's, $8.45 buys you two pickle slices and about a pound of meat served on a laughably small piece of white bread. I wasn't worried that the slabs of pork would slip off and splatter when I picked up the sandwich because they were falling out all on their own.

After a few bites I resorted to eating with a fork and knife. A tiny metal teapot, the kind used to hold cream, was filled with sweet BBQ sauce. A plastic squirt bottle contained a spicier version. I found a mixture of both served the slightly dry meat well. This was not the soft pulled pork commonly served at BBQ joints.

I quickly ran out of bread and asked the server for more, even though it costs an extra $.95. She immediately brought a "half loaf" of warm bread that had the texture of cotton candy. Next to the bread the server placed a small paper cup of glistening butter. Yes! I did, in fact, need a few more calories with this meal. Thank you.

But I forgot to tell you about my baked beans. The pork sandwich comes with one of four typical BBQ sides, your choice. The beans were sugary, creamy, and hot. My only complaint is the ramekin-sized portion they came in.

My bill far surpassed a Lincoln Lunch - $10.14 plus tip. I may have to coin a term for a $10 meal - Hungry Hamilton, anyone?

Visit them at 8136 Sepulveda in Van Nuys just south of Roscoe on the east side of the street. (818) 782-2480. Dr. Hogly Wogly's restroom is outside and I did not venture there.

I was driving to lunch when I spotted a sign for Lucky You Resale, which buys used clothes and resells them. The boutique is small and easy to search. Jeans are organized by size, tops by color. Purses are in the front, shoes are in the back.

I saw a pair of dark Miss Sixty jeans with gold buttons riding up each leg for $22, an Ann Taylor petite silver dress for $3 (it was in a big size), and a chocolate clutch for $15 that had a light spot about the size of a pencil eraser. Hardly noticeable at night.

While many retailers are struggling (Mervyn's, Linens 'n Things, and many furniture stores), co-owner Dina Kimmel swears the boutique is thriving. They are getting in many more top brands and labels as locals sift through their closets to sell clothes and make a little extra cash. As she spoke she dug up a Kooba purse from a mound of incoming items. Kimmel plans to sell it for $50.

Learn how to sell your items for cash or credit to Lucky You Resale.

Visit them at 12441 Magnolia Blvd. in North Hollywood just east of Whitsett Ave. (818) 985-1115. The store is open Monday to Saturday 10 to 6 and Sunday from 12 to 4. Returns are accepted within five days with tags and receipt.

A recent story in the NY Times on gas-friendly, low-budget vacations hits the spot. The writer found a relaxing destination that seems far-flung but is actually 142 miles from her home.

"There was a time when such a short distance from home might hardly have qualified as vacation," the story says. "The inherent rule was that a true getaway really did mean getting as far away as possible. But who can think that way now?"

The story highlights gas tank getaways from four major metro areas: Los Angeles, New York, Boston and San Francisco. The choices for LA are the usual suspects - Palm Springs, Santa Barbara, La Jolla. But a story on how to take a vacation in LA's backyard, aka Santa Monica, pointed out a few things that were new to me. (It also blew the lid on one of my favorite bargain stores, Varga. Dang you, NYT!)

Read the full story or jump straight to the interactive getaway map, which has mini-stories on individual cities.

Don't throw out your Sunday paper yet. Inside the coupon insert section was a brown paper bag from Office Max. Everything you can fit in the bag is 15% off, including printer accessories. Cool!

The bag looks a lot like the one above, which is from a previous year. The deal lasts until Saturday, August 9. In stores only. You must surrender the paper bag when you use it. No price adjustments.

Caveats: excludes gift cards, phone cards special orders. Valid on in-stock items only. Cannot be combined with other offers. One per customer. No rain checks. Merchandise must be in its original packaging and still fit entirely in the bag.

Find an Office Max near you.

The Specialty Restaurants chain has a promotion for $10 off your bill when you make a reservation for the "feed your tank" special and buy two meals come dinning time. The idea is they pay your gas bill to get to the restaurant and back.

Participating restaurants include 94th Aero Squadron in Van Nuys, The Castaway in Burbank and San Bernadino, Luminarias in Monterey Park, Monterey Hill in Monterey Park, Odyssey in Granada Hills, The Proud Bird in Los Angeles, The Reef in Long Beach, and Shanghai Red's in Marina Del Rey. Restaurant links and addresses are here. It is unclear how long this promotion lasts.

At the Odyssey you can combine the $10 off deal with an early-bird special if you are seated between 4:30 and 6:00 p.m. daily. Reader Brian did just this and said "the early bird special is $15.95 and includes soup (a great clam chowder), entree (choice of prime-rib, a chicken dish or one other dish I can't remember what it was), dessert and coffee or tea. If you want the fabulous salad bar you may substitute the soup for an additional $1.95."

With no drinks ordered his bill for two came to $21.90. Not bad! Thanks, Brian!

Get 15% off regular priced shoes at Shoes.com for the rest of the month! Use code BTS08 at checkout to get the discount.

The site is in full on back to school mode with a spotlight on itsboys and girls section, including shoes to go with uniforms. Sadly, backpacks are not eligible for the discount.

A sporty pink and purple pair of Kangaroos, replete with mini zipper pocket, is $35. A pair of boys dinosaur shoes, above, are $35. The shoes even have a Stegosaurus print on the sole of the shoe.

You can search by brand, size, gender, and category.
Caveats: The discount does not apply to bags and the following brands: Allen Edmonds, Allrounder, Bragano, Bruno Magli, Burton, Cole Haan, Crocs, Dansko, Diesel, Donald J Pliner, Ecco, G Series, K-Swiss, LAMB, Keen, Kenneth Cole, Lucchese, Mark Nason, MBT, Mephisto, Merrell, Puma, Puma Black Label, Royal Elastics, Siren, Stuart Weitzman and Ugg. May not be redeemed for cash, combined with other offers, or applied to previous purchases.

If you are looking for the Bargain Hunter column, it has moved to Tuesdays at the top of Classifieds, the D section. I would have preferred moving to Friday or Sunday, but the move is still a really good thing.

The new column will be on a section front instead of buried inside the news section on A18? A24? Come Tuesday no digging is required to find the deals!

Just flip through the sections until you see a snazzy new picture of me (it's about as glamorous as I get) and the "bargain hunter" banner.

The new column is longer so there is space for more deals and pictures to highlight my fun finds. I think it looks very snazzy and I hope you agree.

Half of Americans rate the economy as "poor," according to a recent Gallup poll. It only follows that a lot of folks are worried about how to give their kids what they need and want before sending them into the classroom.

So every weekday in August I am going to post a school-related deal or sale. Here's the first one.

Before heading to the stores make a list to focus on what you need most. Kaboose has lists for kindergarten through third grade and another for fourth through tenth grades. Some of the suggestions are unnecessary or can wait, in my opinion, including paper reinforcers and tissues.

Another way to stick to the essentials and save money is to ask your child's teacher what they absolutely will need on day one and what is optional or can be purchased later. Along the same lines, there may be something your kid thinks is super important to have and other things they could care less about.

Looking for a "stay-cation" that is restful and fits your budget? Check out a blog called Tanks for the Memories from the Pasadena Star News, a sister paper to the Daily News. Tanks for the Memories is all about one gallon vacations, but it has a lot of general travel news and tips.

One post links to state park trail maps so you can find a great hike online and not rely on the ranger to recommend one when you arrive. Just in case you were wondering what the bargain angle was, hikes are an awfully cheap and fun thing to do, especially if you pack a lunch or find a swimming hole!

Other stay-cation ideas:

+ Take an all-day cooking class. Learn new recipes and eat a lot of good food! In Los Angeles I like The New School of Cooking in Culver City. To find classes in your area Google "cooking classes" and the city you live in. If you Google cooking schools you will find programs geared towards professionals.

+ A trip to the spa. (It is almost Spa Week, but more on that later).

+ Plan a day around all the fun, touristy things you never have time for in your own town. A trip to a museum? Lunch at a new restaurant? A garden or art tour? If your budget allows, stay in a hotel for one night to extend the trip.

+ Organize a pot luck at a park or beach. Hosting a party outdoors saves you the trouble of cleaning your home. Use a free online organizing and RSVP tool like Evite.com or MyPunchBowl.com. Save even more time by asking two or three close friends if they want to co-host. That way you can delegate jobs like reserving the space, planning games for kids, etc.

+ Hire a personal chef to cook all your meals for a weekend. It lightens your load and leaves more time for relaxation. Plus, new exciting meals! Consider inviting friends over for a dinner party one night. Find one for hire near you on HireAChef.com.

+ Brainstorm all the things you love to do on vacation - golf, shop, explore, etc - and find ways to do them near home. Come Monday you will look so happy and revived that your co-workers will think you were in Hawaii!

Time for some Friday fun. Find out how many other people in the US have the same name as you. I did it and the site says I am one of 629! The site breaks it down by how many people share your first and last name as well.

HowManyOfMe.com

There are 629 people with my name in the U.S.A. How many have your name?

Customer appreciation week at Staples ends Saturday, August 2, 2008 so get in soon to shop with a 12% discount. Print the coupon here. Valid in stores only.

Staples groups all their back to school stuff here. They also suggest back to school shopping lists by grade.

Caveats: coupon is good on in-stock inventory only. Price matching not allowed. For your personal purchases only, not part of your corporate contract. Cannot be used with any other offer. Cannot be used in conjunction with any Staples Rewards® programs. Excludes personal computers, laptops, gift cards, phone cards and postage stamps.

Find a Staples near you.

Get free shade trees for your home without too much work. To qualify you have to be a DWP customer and take a 20 minute online workshop about how to care for the young trees. I've heard you can get up to seven 15-gallon trees!

Read more about the program here. It is part of the Million Trees LA campaign.

Homeowners Associations and apartment owners must apply through the Non-Residential Program.

Got questions? Call 1-800-GreenLA (800-473-3652) or email the free tree folks at tree.program@ladwp.com. Thanks, Jen!

Get 30% off a full-priced item at Borders now until Sunday, August 3. To get the deal you must be part of their free membership program. Print the coupon here. One per customer.

Caveats: the discount cannot be combined with any other offer, including but not limited to "3 for 2," "Buy 4, Get 5th Free," or "Buy 1, Get 1 Half Price" offers. Excludes previous purchases, non-stock special orders, gift cards, newspapers, magazines, comics, coupon books, eBooks, digital downloads, self-publishing programs, Rosetta Stone® software, shipping, and all electronics, including the Sony® Reader and the Zune™.

Find a Borders near you.

Make money off your kids' old clothes, toys, books, furniture, and equipment at the Santa Clarita Valley Kids Consignment sale. Being a consignor costs $10 and you earn 65% of your items' sale price, which you set. Or earn 70% if you volunteer for three hours, which also gets you into the pre-sale.

To be a consignor you must have between 30 and 250 items to sell, all free of stains, rips, tears. Toys and equipment must be in working condition. Read the consignor guidelines. Kristin Nelson, who runs the sale, is accepting 200 consignor spots and they usually sell out. Register here.

If you have not been to one of Nelson's sales they are a sight to see. Imagine an incredibly well organized warehouse full of kids stuff. I have written about her past sales (she does the same thing in Van Nuys sale in October) for the Daily News and many of the women I interviewed said they made enough money selling their items to buy everything their kids needed for their next growth spurt. It takes work to tag all your sale items, but the chances for profit are high because so many people come to the sale.

The SCV sale is September 19 to 21, 2008 at Granary Square at 25830 McBean Pkwy in
Santa Clarita.