A reader emailed me with a tip on a good place for cheap pet baths. It costs less than a groomer and won't stink up your home!

"I take my dog to the Petco...and give her a bath at their self-service grooming for $10.00. Groomers charge me between $25 and $45 so this is a bargain for me and I don't have to burn gas to drop her off at the groomer's and then pick her up and she won't be in a cage all day waiting for her bath and then waiting for me to pick her up. Petco provides the basin for the bath, a thick no-slip mat on the bottom of the basin, hot and cold water, a hand-held sprayer with a long hose, all the shampoos and conditioners including the ones for dry skin, allergies, fleas, towels or a hair blower, and to top it off......Petco cleans the mess!"

The downside, she points out, is the temptation to buy stuff while she is in the store. Leave your wallet in the trunk (other than cash to pay for the bath) and you won't have that problem. Find a Petco near you and remember to check the option for self-service dog wash. Thanks, Shoshana!

Posted by Julia Scott at 8:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)

That Pet Place is having a big clearance sale with more than 900 items discounted. A pet collar that lets you snap in your animal's name and your phone number is $10 (orig $17). A mini-tent for a ferret or other small animal is $10 (orig $15).

The spider cat tree is like a playground for your kitty. It has four scratching posts, four elevated landings from which your kitty can keep watch, four dangling toys and a hollow hideout in the center of the contraption, pictured above. It is $141 (orig $230). Browse all their deals here.

Posted by Julia Scott at 6:30 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Get $10 off any dog bed until June 30 at OhMyDogSupplies.com, a site that caters to pampered pooches. Use code BEDS4BARGANISTS when checking out. The microvelvet double donut dog bed, above, is $150 (orig $160) and looks tres comfy. All dogs beds are shipped free. Join their email list and you will get 12% off your first purchase.

The site also has short stories on caring for your dog, from training tips to a shopping guide for great danes. Browse all their dog tales.

Posted by Julia Scott at 6:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

If you notice a trend in today's posts it is because today is theme day! I hope you enjoy reading the pet-themed deals and save a buck from one of the tips. If I have overlooked your favorite place to save on anything pet-related please leave a comment so others can benefit. Thanks! ~Julia

PS. The next theme will be free things to do in LA. Thanks in advance for sending me your ideas!

Posted by Julia Scott at 5:30 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Now through Tuesday, May 27 get free shipping at JC Penney on orders of $49 or more. The offer includes outlet items. Use code SUPERSUM. Not sure if it is case sensitive.

Tons of summery dresses are on sale and many are under $50! A colorful dress with red, pink, brown, and yellow accent flowers, above, is $25 (orig $50). Bath and bedding have steep mark downs and kitchen goods are on sale, like this 14-piece red non stick pot set for $100 (orig $150). Browse all the women's clothing on sale, including swim suits, capris, accessories, tops, and maternity.

Caveats: good for delivery within the 48 contiguous United States, not eligible on truck or express deliveries, taxes, services, prior purchases, past purchases. Cannot be combined with any other offers.

Posted by Julia Scott at 11:34 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Because Sears knows a lot of folks get outdoors on Memorial Day weekend they have marked down some outdoor furniture, grills and outdoor games. There is also a 12% mail-in rebate for appliances that cost more than $399 and have been purchased between May 18 and 22, 2008. Read the details here.

All Garden Oasis furniture is on sale, including a 10-piece patio set for $450 (orig $550). All Kenmore grills are on sale. A combination badminton/volleyball set is $30 (orig $50), a six player croquet set is $18 (orig $25). Browse all their outdoor games here.

Sale ends May 22. Find a store near you.

Posted by Julia Scott at 12:14 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Get 20% off your total purchase at Linens -n- Things now until May 26, 2008. In stores only. Print the coupon here. Beach towels are already 30% off as part of their Memorial Day sale. Summer serving ware is 25% off. A lot of other summery items are on sale. A squarish beach towel, above, is $21 (orig $30) before the coupon applies.

Caveats: one per customer, some brands excluded, not valid on past purchases or gift cards, cannot be combined with other coupons. Find a LNT near you.

Posted by Julia Scott at 10:56 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Save a few bucks while stocking up on bones for Beastie or toys for your Kitty at PetSmart. Get $5 off a purchase of $25, $10 off a $40 tab, or $15 off a bill of $50. Print the coupons here. The expire May 18, 2008.

Caveats: cannot be used to buy gift cards. Find a PetSmart near you.

Posted by Julia Scott at 11:08 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Get 40% off one regular priced book at Borders when you spend at least $20. Must belong to the Borders free membership club. The coupon is good in stores only. Print the coupon here. Expires May 18, 2008.

"Autobiography of a Face," by Lucy Grealy, sounds fascinating. As a young girl Grealy's face was disfigured by cancer and she struggled her entire life to accept herself while secretly wanting to be perfect, the Amazon review says.

Caveats: excludes previous and online purchases, non-stock special orders, magazines, comics, coupon books, eBooks, and shipping. Cannot be combined with other coupons or discounts, one coupon per customer. Find a Borders near you.

Posted by Julia Scott at 10:01 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Rut roh! That's me using my best Scooby Doo voice after hearing that big dogs are not welcome at the new Americana at Brand shopping complex in Glendale, according to Racked LA.

Racked writes "Family-friendly Americana at Brand is already not looking so lovingly at Fido if he's not the size of a teacup. Franklin Avenue reports on letters coming into the Glendale News-Press complaining about Americana's no big-dog policy."

What if you live there and have a big, Scooby-sized pooch? Does this mean you can't take him/her for a stroll out your front door? If it comes down to pet people v. Americana mall rats, pet people are going to piss all over the policy. Now, who's got a Scooby snack?

Posted by Julia Scott at 7:36 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)

Get a 15-piece baking set for $10 (orig $20) from Linens -n- Things. Great for folks setting up their kitchen or home. The nonstick set, pictured above, includes a cookie sheet, a 12-cup muffin pan, two 9-inch cake pans, a bread loaf pan, plastic measuring cup, set of four plastic measuring spoons, two silicone spatulas, a whisk, icing knife and slotted spatula.

LNT also has a $10 pasta set (orig $20), an 11-piece breakfast set for $15 (orig $20), and an 11-piece pizza set for $15 (orig $20).

Not sure if the set is also discounted in stores but if it is remember to use a 20% off coupon.

Posted by Julia Scott at 1:44 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Who knows how long the Sharper Image, which filed for bankruptcy in February, will be around. With their fate uncertain the retailer has put out a lot of coupons to boost business. So if you have always yearned for a black imitation leather chair that squeezes your calves and sends rollers up and down your back while humming lightly, check out these coupons.

$10 off $50 or more until Jan 31, 2009. Online, in stores and over the phone.

$15 off $75 or $30 off $150 until May 31, 2008. Online, in stores and over the phone.

$20 off a purchase of $100 or more until Jan 31, 2009. Online, in stores and over the phone.

Note, just because the coupon expiration dates are far into the future does not mean they will be around that long. If a coupon is being used heavily a retailer may rescind the offer.

Caveats: read the fine print.

Posted by Julia Scott at 11:59 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Get $10 off a purchase of $30 or more at Bath and Body Works with a coupon that expires today, May 12, 2008. In stores only. Print the coupon here. Find a store near you.

Caveats: cannot be combined with other coupons or discounts, not valid on past purchases or gift cards. Shipping and taxes do not count towards $30. Thanks, Kay!

Posted by Julia Scott at 10:11 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Deconstruct a home to preserve the windows, cabinets, bathtub, and flooring and resell them to the public at low prices. That's what the ReUsePeople do and it sounds like a bargain! They have new retail warehouses in Pacoima, plus others in Oakland, Seattle, the outside Boulder.

The Pacoima warehouse is having its grand opening this Saturday and celebrating by selling all doors for $5 (normally $20 to $50). Windows are $15 to $60, kitchen cabinets are $20 to $100 per, bedroom dressers are $20 to $100, fridges are $150 to $200 and stoves are $35 to $100. Look also for water heaters, dishwashers, built in shelves, a few bathtubs, and more.

Saturday 10 to 4, Tuesday through Friday 10 to 5. Check some of the items they have on the right column of their retail sales page. One listing from a 5,400 square foot home in Pt. Loma includes beveled-glass French doors, Jen Air cook top, Sub Zero refrigerator, granite vanities and like-new hot tub.

The sale is at 11017 Sutter Ave. in Pacoima. (818) 897-2798.

Directions: From I-5: Take the 118E. Exit at San Fernando Road, make a left onto San Fernando Road, make the first right onto Paxton. Make the first right onto Sutter Avenue. The warehouse is on the left hand side, about one block down. Cash and credit cards.

Posted by Julia Scott at 11:23 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

JC Penney is having a home sale with prices marked down by 30 to 60%. A six-piece towel set that comes in 26 colors is $30 (orig $50). A wooden bookshelf is $229 (orig $400). An Abbott kitchen cart with a towel bar and rollers, above, is $90 (orig $150). Unclear when the sale ends.

If you shop online, get free shipping if your tab is $99 or more with promo code MAYHMS. Expires May 12, 2008.

Posted by Julia Scott at 9:16 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Get 15% off one item at Barnes & Nobles stores or online with a coupon that is good until May 19, 2008. Print the coupon here. Online use promo code Y8Y8E9R. Find a store near you.

Caveats: can only be used once in stores and once online per customer, will be deducted after any applicable Member discounts, not eligible towards the purchase of gift cards, past purchases, memberships, gift-wrapping, Barnes & Noble Bestsellers, textbooks, ship-to-home orders, shipping or handling, products marked as "not eligible for Member discounts, coupons or promotional discounts," used books, PC and video games, etc. May not be combined with any other coupon. Not valid at Barnes & Noble College Bookstores. Please note that product prices and availability are subject to change. Prices on bn.com may vary from those in Barnes & Noble retail stores. Photocopies not accepted.

Thanks, Linda!

Posted by Julia Scott at 8:31 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The price of a first-class stamp goes up from 41-cents to 42-cents May 12. The price of a Forever stamp, which has a picture of the Liberty Bell, will go up on May 14. But if you buy it before then it will cost you 41-cents AND you can use it after rates go up (without a 1-cent add-on).

Find a post office near you. You can also buy the Forever stamp online.

Posted by Julia Scott at 12:30 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

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

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

Posted by Julia Scott at 7:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

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

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

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

Posted by Julia Scott at 12:37 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

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

Find a Harbor Freight near you.

Posted by Julia Scott at 7:57 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

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

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

Posted by Julia Scott at 12:25 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

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

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

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

Posted by Julia Scott at 7:42 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

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

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

Posted by Julia Scott at 12:54 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

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

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

Posted by Julia Scott at 10:34 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

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

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

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

Posted by Julia Scott at 12:45 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

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

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

Posted by Julia Scott at 11:37 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

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

Posted by Julia Scott at 1:46 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

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

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

Posted by Julia Scott at 10:16 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

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

Posted by Julia Scott at 10:49 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

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

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

Posted by Julia Scott at 9:51 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

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

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

Posted by Julia Scott at 9:14 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

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

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

Posted by Julia Scott at 11:31 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

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

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

Posted by Julia Scott at 12:05 PM | Permalink | Comments (4)

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

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

Caveats: cash and carry only. Thanks, Gregg!

Posted by Julia Scott at 8:15 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)

A new kind of prescription drug plan has patients paying for a percentage of their drug's cost instead of a flat co-pay like $10, according to a New York Times story. The drug plan is called Tier 4. Many Medi