Get a free smoothie at Jamba Juice when you buy one that costs at least as much. You have to fill out a brief form with your name, email and zip code to get the coupon. Expires July 30, 2008.
Caveats: baked goods and snacks are not included in the deal. One per customer. Only original coupons are valid. Not valid for Jamba Juice employees.
Find a Jamba Juice near you.
I hate when people see me cry, which is why I'm writing this from home instead of the office, where my colleagues would see my eyes spilling over.
Today is the last day of my editor Melissa Lalum. She is leaving to take a job at CSUN as a journalism professor and adviser to the student newspaper, the Daily Sundial.
I have loved working with Melissa from the first day I met her, when she returned from maternity leave and introduced herself by giving me a hug. Melissa has been unfailingly supportive of my ideas and appreciative of my work.
She nurtured my crazy idea for the Bargain Hunter blog and gave me time to write it, even though it meant producing fewer stories for print. She shared in my highs as lows as I transformed myself from a reporter to a blogger.
I have had two fantastic years working for her. I truly doubt I will find another boss like her.
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Galpin Ford in North Hills is having a major sale - perhaps the biggest in its history - to move 400 2008 Ford F150's off its lot and make room for small cars and hybrids.
"People are still buying pickup trucks," said Irine Krass, a PR rep for Galpin. "Just not at the rate they were before." Ya think?
The sale adds up to about 1/3 off the MSRP IF you have owned a Ford before and IF you finance the truck through them, Galpin Ford sales director Terry Miller tells me. If not, you still qualify for two of the five discounts they are offering.
The big caveat is that the sale excludes the regular cabs - the smallest F150's - but does include the super cabs and super crew cabs, except for the Harley Davidson special edition models.
The 33% off comes from these discounts:
$ A Ford employee special pricing discount of $1,500 to $4,000, depending on the MSRP of the truck. The more expensive the truck, the bigger the discount. An F150 Super Cab with an MSRP of $25,805 has and special pricing discount of $2,380.
$ A $2,000 factory rebate
$ A $1,000 factory rebate if you finance with Ford credit.
$ A $3,000 loyalty discount if you or a member of your household currently owns a 1998 Ford or newer model. Bring the registration and a piece of mail to show you live at the same address that the Ford is registered to.
$ A Galpin bonus if you qualify for all of the above discounts that will bring the total discount to 1/3 off the manufacturer MSRP. If not you can still get the $2,000 factory rebate and special employee pricing.
To look up the MSRP of the many F150 models, check Kelly Blue Book.
The sale starts Saturday and ends July 31. On Saturday they are open 8:30 am to 9 pm or later. The Galpin Ford dealership is at 15505 Roscoe Boulevard in North Hills. (818) 787-3800.
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Get 99-cent shipping on clearance items at Macys now until Sunday, July 20. Eligible items are marked as such after you click on them. Use promo code 99CENTS when checking out.
Clearance items fall in many categories - clothing, shoes, housewares, jewelry, bedding and more. Make sure to stay on the clearance pages if you want the cheap shipping.
A Giani Bernini tobacco satchel, above, is $56 (orig $75) and has 99-cent shipping. Hand-painted square ceramic dinner plates are $4.50 each (orig $10) and qualify for 99-cent shipping.
Caveats: Good for shipping to one address. Alaska, Hawaii, US Territories or APO/FPO addresses excluded. Discount does not apply to Coach, area rugs, furniture, mattresses, gift cards, purchases on macysweddingchannel.com, purchases in Macy's stores or prior purchases. Big or heavy items may have a shipping surcharge.
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Worried your favorite Starbucks is one of the 600 across the nation that is closing? The list of doomed stores was just released so find out the fate here of your local global coffee shop.
Las Vegas got hit the hardest with 14 stores closing. San Diego comes in second with 10 shutting down. Dallas and Baton Rouge are losing nine, Houston eight. Indianapolis and Seattle will each have seven fewer.
The 600 stores represent about 8.5 percent of the company's U.S. total, according to a Seattle PI story.
Need a pick me up? Read The Onion's take on Starbucks earlier expansion efforts. The story begins "Starbucks, the nation's largest coffee-shop chain, continued its rapid expansion Tuesday, opening its newest location in the men's room of an existing Starbucks..."
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Here is another super tasty dinner that makes tons of leftovers or feeds about six hungry eaters. My sister sent me the recipe from the NY Times years ago and I've adapted it slightly. It is hearty and perfect for a chilly day (because we are having so many of these lately) or as a recovery meal after a hard workout.
Meat sauce with turkey
1 lb ground turkey (you can use the super lean stuff but it's a bit dry) ($4)
1T olive oil
1 large chopped yellow onion ($.80)
2-6 minced garlic cloves (depending on how much you like garlic) ($.75)
2-3 chopped carrots ($.60)
1 - 28 ounce can whole peeled tomatoes ($1.19)
1 - 6 ounce can tomato paste ($.50)
1 T fresh basil or 1 t dried
1 T fresh oregano or 1 t dried
salt and pepper to taste
1 lb pasta ($1.25)
Use a large pot. On medium high heat brown the meat, then push it to the side of the pan. Add the olive oil and saute the onion, then push it to the side. Add the garlic and cook 30 seconds, then push aside. Add carrots and cook a few minutes until they are juicy. Turn down the heat if they look like they are going to burn.
Add whole peeled tomatoes one at a time, breaking each one up in your fingers. Be careful to poke a hole first and point it down so all the juices don't squirt all over you. Add tomato paste then fill can with water and add that. Mix everything together with spices. Cover and simmer over low heat for one hour.
Make extra pasta if you want to have the sauce for lunch the next day. This meal works great for a dinner party because you can get it on the stove before guests arrive. The sauce freezes well.
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Get 20% off your whole purchase at Big Lots this Sunday from 6 to 9 p.m. only. Print the coupon here. It is good at any Big Lots store.
Big Lots stocks furniture, small appliances, toys, clothes, food, household and yard supplies. The inventory differs from store to store but you can check which deals are near you on their home page.
Right now they have a special on Gibson mini electric guitars for kids, above, for $75 (orig $129). Stiffel table and floor lamps are $35 to $90.
Caveats: cannot be applied to past purchases or price holds. Cannot be combined with the employee discount or used on gift cards.
Find a Big Lots near you. Thanks, Albert!
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The Contrarian Traveler has a list of their favorite travel blogs that can be used for researching an upcoming trip or, if the economy has you stuck at home, an evening of armchair travel. Here are a few to consider.
GridSkipper covers a mishmash of travel topics, including where you can swim with crocodiles (safely, if that is possible), the best places to suck down oysters in NYC, and a hotel that requires you to check your PDA at the door. Your thumbs need a vacation, apparently.
Killing Batteries is a quirky, honest blog written by a guidebook writer who says his kind have these telltale signs:
+ Looks at every business marquee while speed-walking down the street at a scorching 5 MPH.
+ Seems constantly distracted and lonely (by 'distracted and lonely' I mean horny)
+ Grills you and everyone else in the hostel for details about where you went and what you did that day and how you liked it. Then scribbles every detail down in a ludicrously large, bursting filofax or PDA.
+ Seems to have memorized ridiculous amounts of information about the country you're in.
+ Looks exhausted and disheveled, yet still intriguingly...
]]> ...sexy.The Family Travel blog writes about seeing the world with your kids. Look for posts on trips to Belgium, Texas and many places in between.
NationalParksTraveler weaves American history with scenic descriptions of our country's parks. In one recent post he writes about the death of Confederate General Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson.
"Thick forest still hangs over the waning vestige of the Old Mountain Road where the general was riding, beyond the front lines, when members of the 18th North Carolina mistook him and his aides for a Union incursion and fired a volley that cut him down."
Still looking for a travel blog that interests you? Read all of the Contrarian Traveler's recommendations.
]]>"The only time in the past quarter-century that monthly inflation has been that high was in September 2005, when prices jumped by 1.3 percent, mostly because Hurricane Katrina shut down oil refineries and energy prices spiked," the story says.
Here's how the increases played out:
So what are you cutting back on? I'm putting off buying a new swimsuit until next July, when they go on super sale. And I'm scrounging around the kitchen to make meals out of leftovers to avoid a $15 take out bill.
(not my actual lunch) I'm biased against Chinese food. The first thing that comes to mind when somebody suggests it is grease. So I approached Eastern Palace Chinese Restaurant, where a reader said I would find a $4.75 Lincoln Lunch, with dread.
As soon as I arrived that hesitation began to dissipate. For starters, the parking lot had many open spaces and at the entrance two bright red doors emblazoned with lion's heads greeted me. How can you go wrong with lions?
Inside, a server noticed me immediately and pointed me to a side table. I ordered the $4.75 daily lunch special, which comes with soup, salad, an eggroll, rice, an entree, and dessert. Today's entree was pork chop suey - you don't get to choose.
My hot and sour soup and side salad were on the table before I finished reading the front page of the Daily News. The soup had soft tofu chunks and was quite spicy. The iceberg salad had a few shredded carrots, pieces of red cabbage, and had a tangy dressing that tasted like apple vinegar.
A steaming plate of pork chop suey with two scoops of rice and an eggroll arrived just as I was finishing my starters. The eggroll was crispy but not as tough as a chew toy, like many eggrolls. The main dish was slightly salty but I ate most of it in the interest of research.
Dessert was an orange slice, which I ate because the meal seemed more of a bargain that way, and a lone fortune cookie. "You will be transforming a situation in your life now with a positive attitude." I hope so.
Other lunch specials were $5.95 and up. Read the whole menu here. The quiet restaurant is outfitted in traditional Chinese decor and has pipped in music. The speedy service would feel rushed if it were dinner, but at lunch it just seemed timely.
Visit them at 14429 Victory Blvd in Van Nuys. (818) 785-9888.
Seeing movie matinées are a great way to cut your entertainment tab and keep up to date with the latest blockbusters, like The Dark Knight.
Prices and times for matinees vary by theater and region but generally you can get a discounted ticket up to half-off if you go to a show in the morning or early afternoon. Hitting a matinee is a great way to escape the summer heat and hide during peak sunburn hours.
AMC Theaters, which owns Lowe's, sells $6 tickets for shows starting before noon Friday through Sunday.
Regal Theaters has adult tickets for $7.75 and senior/children tickets for $7.50 on shows before 3pm on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
Call your local theater for details. Thanks, Tom!
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Rumor Summer SaleSassy Chics (children's) anniversary sale
Get 25% off all clothing with code 25OFF through July 20
PPB Bags and Lipstik backpacks are excluded
Online only at SassyChics.com
Meghan Fabulous Blowout Sample Sale,
Sun dresses and tops priced 50 to 80 percent off, plus a $20 rack for bargainistas
Friday 10 to 6, Saturday and Sunday 10 to 4
Cash and credit card only.
1406 S. Main St. downtown Los Angeles. (213) 747-8890
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Foley + Corinna Sample Sale
Get up to 75 percent off summer samples and overstock
Saturday 11 to 7 and Sunday 12 to 5
8117 Melrose Ave in West Hollywood. (323) 944-0169
Feature Boutique Summer Sale
Current season up to 50% off starting today
Thursday and Friday 10:30 to 6:30 and Saturday 11 to 6
11958 San Vicente Blvd. in Brentwood. (310) 826-6600
Saylor Boutique Summer Sale
Designer collections up to 70% off
Monday through Saturday 10 to 6 and Sunday noon to 5
912 Montana Ave. in Santa Monica. (310) 434-9274
Hillary Rush Summer Sale
Get 30 to 75% off jeans, shoes, and clothing
Monday through Saturday 11 to 7 and Sunday noon to 5
8222 W. Third St. in Los Angeles. (323) 852-0088
Sienna End-of-Season Sale
Fashion-forward pieces up to 50 percent off
Monday through Friday 11 to 6 and Saturday 11 to 7
8908 Melrose Ave. in West Hollywood. (310) 550-8355
Hello! DSW has almost 600 pairs of heels, sandals and flats on clearance, plus about 200 men's shoes on sale. Many pairs are in the $20 to $40 range. If you are part of their free rewards program you can get free shipping on tabs of $50 or more through August 4, 2008 with promo code REWS7.
A pair of R2 skimmers in a brownish green with tiny pink and white dots, above, is $20 (orig $40). Shop women's sale pairs or men's sale pairs. The pages are taking a long time to load because of all the shoe pictures so give the links plenty of time to come up.
Caveats: free shipping for the contiguous U.S. states only. Gift cards, gift wrap, shipping and taxes do not count toward the $50 qualification. Cannot be combined with other offers.
It's unclear is the sale is also going on in stores. Find a DSW near you.
Just how desperate are retailers are in this depressing economy? Very, if Kmart's decision to offer steep discounts to night owl shoppers is any indication.
Kmart is offering between 5% and 10% off to shoppers who make purchases online starting tonight at 6pm and going until 6am the morning of Thursday, July 17. Get your credit card ready and your coffee brewing!
During the 12-hour sale buyers get an extra 5% off regular and sale priced TV's, digital cameras and camcorders. And they get 10% off all other electronics, including video games, hardware, iPods, Zunes and computers. All power lawn equipment is 10 % off and shipping is free on fitness and sports orders over $115. Clothing orders over $69 get free shipping.
Red-eyed shopping is usually only seen during the holiday buying spree post-Thanksgiving. Let's hope this trend does not become common place. I need my zzzzs!
I think the real reason many people are scared to haggle is because they will feel sooooo embarrassed if it does not work. So here are some tips to recover when bargaining goes sour.
+ Avoid getting into a heated situation in the first place. If you make the negotiation into a fight, not being able to convince the merchant will really feel like losing.
+ Be nice. Remind the seller that you are a frequent and loyal customer (if you are) and really want to spend your dollars at their store. Buttering up a merchant never hurts ("You have really nice clothes in here") and it will help you maintain a good relationship with the store, even if you walk away.
+ Stay on the fence. Discuss the price as if you have not made up your mind whether you will buy the item or not. A merchant will be more likely to cut a deal if you are undecided, and it will be easier to not buy an item if you are using phrases like...
]]> ..."if I buy this" and "I'm not sure, but..."+ Use body language to show your hesitation because of the price. Put an item down while discussing the price. That shows you can walk away from it.
+ Decide ahead of time what price or price range you are willing to pay. If the seller won't come down, recall your initial price decision and politely say something like, "Unfortunately, that is just a little more than I can pay. Thank you." Then walk away.
+ If you really want the item but can't persuade them to shave a few dollars off, tell them you have to think about it and may come back. If the item is still around a few days or weeks later, they may be more willing to strike a deal.
+ Give them one last chance. If they are not willing to give you 10% off or whatever you asked for, ask them what they can do for you. If they won't budge, say thank you and walk away.
+ If you decide to buy the item even after negotiations fail, save face by saying something like "well, I really do need this new Ferrari, so I guess I will buy it anyway. What's your return policy?"
For tips on how to haggle visit HowToHaggle.com, which also has a page on what kinds of stores are ready to haggle.
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