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 Medicare plans have it and now an increasing number of private plans are using it. Only a few drugs are in Tier 4 but they are very expensive, pushing patient co-pays to three or four digits.

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

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

Posted by Julia Scott at 8:24 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

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

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

Posted by Julia Scott at 2:26 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

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

Posted by Julia Scott at 1:11 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

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

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

Posted by Julia Scott at 8:10 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

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

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

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

Posted by Julia Scott at 8:04 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)

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

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

Posted by Julia Scott at 6:24 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)

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

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

Posted by Julia Scott at 7:31 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

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

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

Posted by Julia Scott at 8:07 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

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

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

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

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

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

Posted by Julia Scott at 8:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

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

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

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

Continue reading "Free printer cartridge refill" »

Posted by Julia Scott at 11:47 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

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

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

Posted by Julia Scott at 11:32 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

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

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

Posted by Julia Scott at 9:21 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

UPDATE: This deal has already expired.

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

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

Posted by Julia Scott at 10:38 AM | Permalink | Comments (3)

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

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

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

Posted by Julia Scott at 9:49 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

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

Caveats: not good at college bookstores or online.

Posted by Julia Scott at 2:18 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

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

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

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

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

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

Posted by Julia Scott at 8:40 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)

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

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

Posted by Julia Scott at 11:41 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

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

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

Posted by Julia Scott at 11:25 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

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

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

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

Posted by Julia Scott at 1:49 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

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

Posted by Julia Scott at 12:23 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

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

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

Posted by Julia Scott at 9:44 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Posted by Julia Scott at 7:53 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

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

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

Find a Borders near you.

Posted by Julia Scott at 7:50 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

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

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

Posted by Julia Scott at 10:26 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

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

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

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

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

Posted by Julia Scott at 2:11 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

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

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

Thanks, Sarah!

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

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

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

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

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

Posted by Julia Scott at 10:37 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

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

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

Posted by Julia Scott at 7:54 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

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

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

Posted by Julia Scott at 10:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

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

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

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

Posted by Julia Scott at 7:51 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)

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

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

Posted by Julia Scott at 7:32 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

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

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

Posted by Julia Scott at 11:42 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

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

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

Posted by Julia Scott at 11:11 AM | Permalink | Comments (3)

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

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

Posted by Julia Scott at 10:26 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

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

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

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

Posted by Julia Scott at 11:22 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

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

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

Posted by Julia Scott at 11:09 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

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

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

Posted by Julia Scott at 7:51 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

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

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

Posted by Julia Scott at 11:49 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

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

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

Posted by Julia Scott at 10:30 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Get $20 off $120 at Overstock.com. Expires March 3, 2008. A cherry veneer bed frame with simple, open lines, above, is $430 (orig $829). Browse their computers and electronics, home improvement items, and bedroom furniture.

Caveats: discount excludes books, music, movies and games.

Posted by Julia Scott at 2:23 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Spring is around the corner and that means it's time to get gardening. It is time to plant herbs and vegetables, shade-loving vines like Boston Ivy, spring perennials, elephant ear and caladium bulbs, according to my Home Depot Garden Club flyer.

Before you start digging, spend a little time creating a plan for what will go where. Pencil and paper always helps you remember what you decided. Also leave time to clean up last year's garden - raking leaves, pulling weeds, and prepping the soil. May be a good idea to check your watering system for leaks or adjust for the new plants and tune up mowers and power tools. Start now and by March 20 - the first day of spring - you will already have a few plants in the ground!

I like Green Thumb in Canoga Park (21828 Sherman Way) for gardening advice and the wide range of plants they stock. OSH and Home Depot have cheaper plants but you have to watch more closely for quality. And it's almost impossible to find someone if you have a question. If you do track someone down, forget about them actually knowing anything about plants. OSH has a direct link from its home page to various coupons, many for garden items.

Posted by Julia Scott at 8:50 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Get $20 off your purchase of $150 or more at Staples now through Thursday Feb 28. Very few exclusions! Good in stores, online or over the phone. Print the coupon or enter code 17794 when buying online or over the phone (1-800-333-3330).

Caveats: not good on services, gift cards, postage stamps or prior purchases. Find a Staples near you.

Posted by Julia Scott at 1:37 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Looks like this discount can be used on goods from any part of the store when you shop Target online. Expires March 1, 2008. When checking out use coupon code TC749CY2. I like these forest green jersey sheets for $20 for king, queen, CA king, full or twin. My friend has jersey sheets and they were so soft and warm I thought it was flannel at first touch.

You can also get free shipping on tabs of $50 or more when you buy from these categories: men's, women's, kids' clothing, shoes, handbags and accessories, baby gear, bed and bath, home décor and lighting. No coupon needed for free shipping.

Posted by Julia Scott at 12:38 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

When my mom offered to cover all my books in college I was relieved because I knew they added up to $300+ per semester. My chemistry book alone cost $112 and it was only for one semester! Now students can turn to Chegg.com, a Web site that rents textbooks.

Prices are about 40 percent of the list price of a new book, according to a story by the Kansas City Star in Missouri. For every book rented Chegg.com will plant a tree. Students buy a tree in textbooks every year, according to the site.

Another textbook rental site is BookRenter.com, which boasts prices 50 percent to 75 percent below retail. Rental periods range from 1 to 4 months and shipping is included in the book price.

Both are great sources to check out if you can't find the books you need used.

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

My mother is reading it. My Aunt is reading it. And at a gathering of friends this weekend I found out three of them were reading it. "Three cups of tea" is a non-fiction book about a mountaineer who winds up in an isolated village in Pakistan after he fails to climb K2 on the China/Pakistan border. Depressed and desolate, the climber, Greg Mortenson, is taken in by the villagers and so impressed with their generosity he promises to return and build a school. The book is on the New York Times bestseller list and so with so many peeps reading it, I figured I should look into the best places to buy it.

Amazon has it for $17.13 new or used from $13 and up. Overstock.com has it for $8.11 for the hardcover. Harvard Booksellers has it for $7.18. eBay

has many copies at rock bottom prices but with shipping and handling it adds up to about as much as other retailers. HotBookSale has it in paperback for $4.90 with free shipping. Other low prices for the book are listed on Google Shopping.

Of course the best price - free - is at the LA public library, where most copies are checked out or in transit. But you can place a hold on the book to get the next available copy. They will even deliver it to the branch of your choosing!

Posted by Julia Scott at 1:32 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

Unlike most of Borders' coupons, this one does not require you to be a member. Until February 27, 2008 get 20% off the list price of one item at Borders with this printable coupon.

Caveats: not good online or towards previous purchases, gift cards, magazines, comics, special orders, electronics (including Zune and the Sony Reader), coffee, Rosetta stone products, or shipping.

Find a store near you. Happy reading.

Posted by Julia Scott at 2:01 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

I am salivating over this sale because I loooooove to buy organization stuff. What better than a piece of colorful plastic to help me battle the world's chaos? But let's get down to business.

The Container Store sale lasts until April 15, which is appropriate because it is being called a tax sale.

A white monthly magnetic calender is $16 (orig $20). Blue and green are not on sale. My neighbor has one and not only is she super busy, but super organized and on the ball. The aptly named mighty magnet rounds are $10 (orig $13). Lots more file folders, mesh file holders, and choas-eliminating tools.

Browse all the sale stuff. The site also provides "expert help" on a variety of organizing questions, like To Keep Or Not To Keep. Find a store near you.

Posted by Julia Scott at 8:56 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

And you thought the madness of shopping at 3 am for super sales was limited to the winter holidays. Well, think again. Kmart is offering extra discounts this weekend if you shop overnight - from 10 pm to 6 am. Here are their nightowl discounts:

Get an extra 20% off all My First Craftsman Toys, like this kiddie sized Ford F-150, for $160 (so you'd save $32 off that). Pretty much all the other MFC toys are $5 to $20 so losing sleep over a few bucks seems crazy.

Get an extra 15% off all small appliances, and get a five-drawer Craftsman tool organizer for $100 (orig $150). Get an extra 10% off bikes, patio furniture, and car seats. Read all their nightly sales here.

Looks like you can also get the discounts online. Find a Kmart near you.

Posted by Julia Scott at 11:25 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Today through Monday furniture discounter The Dock Downtown is having a huge President's Day sale, says Bargainsla. Look for markdowns up to 50% on coffee tables, media cabinets, dining tables, and chairs, patio furniture, consoles and more. They have modern and traditional pieces.

BargainsLA found a teak criss cross bookshelf for $463 (orig $950) and a teak TV console with glass doors and drawers for $398 (orig $795). To get an extra $50 off your tab of $250+ print out this page from BargainsLA.

Visit them at 1481 East 4th St. in Los Angeles. (323) 446-0281 ext. 201. Hours Thur to Sat 10 to 6, Sun to Mon 11 to 5. Free on site parking. Delivery is $105 and up for five pieces.

Posted by Julia Scott at 1:41 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Home Depot is having a President's Day sale this weekend (prez day is Monday Feb 18). Get 20% off 1 and 5 gallons of Behr paint, including interior and exterior paint, primer and decorative finishes. Four-packs of compact florescent bulbs are $7 and slide dimmers are $6.50 each (orig $10). A low-flow toilet is $99.

Not too early to think about spring planting. A three-gallon azalea is $4 (orig $5) and six-packs of annuals are $2. Sale ends Monday, Feb 18, with some prices good to Feb 20. Browse the entire weekly ad. Find a Home Depot near you.

Posted by Julia Scott at 9:39 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

If you like to buy environmentally friendly products for home and organic, but pretty clothes and bedding, Gaiam.com is the place to shop online. And since this kind of political correctness has a substantial price tag, the winter clearance catalog sale is the time to shop there. Up to 75 percent off!

There's all sorts of things from cute organic and yoga clothes to bedding. I have bought much of my linens from Gaiam because I'm picky about the materials I sleep and wash with. And I have never been disappointed in its quality, durability or attractiveness. I've got my eye on the organic cotton percale sage duvet cover ($79) and maybe some sheets to go with it. Don't the butter ones look delish? I've got some pillowcases from this set that I love.

I'm also keen on this sleeveless hoodie, for only $15! And this organic t-shirt for $4. Since I hate gift wrapping, I might stock up on these recycled gift bags and since I have two large dogs who think making stains is part of their job description, I might try this organic pet stain remover for $6.

Lots and lots to choose from. And, if like me, you become a regular sale shopper ( I almost never buy anything from their site full price), you will get nifty things like the $10 off coupon when I spend more than $100, which I certainly will if I buy those sheets.

Happy and healthy hunting on Gaiam.com

Posted by Julia Scott at 1:02 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

How romantic! Get 15% off washers and dryers at Sears thru Valentine's Day. A Whirlpool high efficiency front loader is $620 (orig $730). Search all their washer and dryers.

Sears will deliver your new W/D free and haul away your old machine if you spend $400 or more and mail in a rebate. Ask about it when you make your purchase. Find a store near you.

Posted by Julia Scott at 7:46 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

I'm set for wine for like, 6 months. Hubby tipped me off to a wine sale at Albertson's after I asked him to pick up a tasty bottle given to us by our neighbor (her dog did a number 1 *and* a number 2 on our rug).

Seems like a good third of the bottles were marked down when I dropped in. I got a bottle of Smoking Loon Chardonnay and Smoking Loon Merlot for $6 each (orig both $10), a bottle of Fat Bastard Chardonnay and Fat Bastard Shiraz for $10 each (orig both $12), and a bottle of Pepperwood Chardonnay for $5 (orig $10).

But my big score was five bottles of Ravenswood Vinter's Blend 2005 Zinfandel for $8.09 each (orig $11). My neighbor said it was one of her favorite low-budget wines and I whole heartedly agree. It's mild, unlike a lot of cheap vino that beats up your tongue, but flavorful. You can also get it for $8 at BevMo but then there's shipping to think of.

I felt like an alcoholic checking out with 10 bottles of wine and...

Continue reading "Gettin' my drink on" »

Posted by Julia Scott at 8:26 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Thru Saturday, Sears has a big 'ol sale on clothes, appliances, camera, tires, tools, fitness equipment, bedding and a whole lot more. Browse all sale categories.

Get a free 3D sander with any online tool purchase of $50 or more. Fine jewelry is 40 to 70% off and watches are 20 to 30% off. Juniors screen T-shirts are $8 to $10 (orig $20). Handbags are 30 to 40% off. Cameras and small electronics are discounted, including a Sony Cybershot 7.2MP for $160.

Best deals seem to be online, but it's also a good idea to examine the product in stores before you buy. Find a store near you.

Posted by Julia Scott at 1:31 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Cost Plus World Market has a few great prices for home items, like 99-cent stemless wine glasses, which I've seen for $2 at Crate & Barrel and $7 at Pottery Barn. Also on sale is a 24-bottle stacking wine rack with six shelves, four bottles per shelf. Classic white stoneware pieces go for $2 a pop. Glass storage jars are 99-cents each. Booze also on sale. Some items available only in stores.

Find a store near you. Home items on sale to Feb 8, booze on sale to Feb 16.

Posted by Julia Scott at 1:52 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

The Burbank Central Library is having a used book sale today, Friday and Saturday, Feb 7 to 9. Look for vintage books, collectibles, and resource materials from the studios. Prices as marked. Hours are Thur 10 to 6, Friday 10 to 4 and Saturday 10 to 3.

The sale is being run by Friends of the BPL and proceeds go towards supporting the library. The library is located at 110 N Glenoaks Blvd. in Burbank. Questions call (818) 238-5600.

Posted by Julia Scott at 1:27 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Get $5 off your tab of $25 or more at Office Depot through Feb 17, 2008. Items eligible for the discount items include office supplies, desk accessories, furniture, lighting, filing/storage supplies and cleaning supplies.

Print out this coupon for the discount. Find a store near you. Caveats: may not be used to "tech" items like computers, printers, cameras, TVs, monitors, software and memory. Also not good on gift cards, past purchases, stamps, installation services.

Posted by Julia Scott at 1:10 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Wait! Don't buy that book on your "to read" list just yet. Starting tomorrow you can get 20% off any one item at Barnes & Noble online or in stores. Online use coupon code T3E9J3V at checkout. The 20% discount will automatically be applied to the highest-priced item in your cart. In stores print out this coupon.

Caveats: not good at college stores. Cannot be used for textbooks, gift certificates, past purchases, memberships, and a few other things. Read the fine print to be sure.

Posted by Julia Scott at 3:02 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

You have to be a member of the Auto Club of Southern California to use this coupon, but you may well get back the cost of joining AAA with this one deal. Thru Dec 31, 2008 Best Buy will give AAA members 20% off home theater services, computer support services, or car installation services.

Joining AAA costs $47 for one year, plus you can add another member of your household for $24. Remember, the card goes with the person, not the car. So if I'm riding in your car and it breaks down, I can use my AAA card to get a tow.

Caveats: can only be used in store, one per family, not good on prior purchases, and does not apply to charges for materials, kits, harnesses, parts and extensive labor. Sounds complicated. Ask for an estimate of how the charges break down before you agree to buy the service and ask how much the coupon will save you.

Find a Best Buy near you.

Posted by Julia Scott at 10:28 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Software.com has a quick quiz to help you choose which tax software is right for you. It asks about 10 questions, starting with whether you want to download the software or use it online. It also asks whether you itemize deductions, whether you want the software to do your federal or state taxes or both, if you will file a Schedule C for business taxes, or if you want tech support.

At the end of the quiz it links to the recommended software, which the site is happy to sell to you. Each product has user reviews and specs. It's a good idea to shop around to see if Software.com has the best software prices. I'd suggest checking Office Depot, Staples, and the manufacturer of the recommended software.

Posted by Julia Scott at 7:45 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Games like Monopoly, Pictionary and Scrabble are half off online at Barnes & Noble online. A spelling game called Typo, intended for kids age 8 and up, is $5 (orig $10). Trivial Pursuit for Kids is $9 (orig $18). The classic word game Scrabble is $17.50 (orig $35), the African bead game Mancala is $7.50 (orig $15). And the Dirty Party Game is $12.50 (orig $25).

Games are of course great for kids but also make good housewarming presents. Unclear when the sale ends.



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Posted by Julia Scott at 1:33 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Get discounted rates on major newspaper subscriptions through DiscountedNewspapers.com. For some papers the discount is only for a few weeks while other papers offer lower rates up to a year.

Get the LA Daily News for $2.50 a week (normally $4.25) for eight weeks. The LA Times is $1.90 to $3.15 per week (normally $5.55), depending on how many weeks you choose. Get the Wall Street Journal for $4.79 to $5.31 per week, depending on how many weeks you choose. They also have deals on the Pasadena Star Tribune, the San Gabriel Valley Tribune, NY Daily News and the Washington Post.

Browse all the newspapers they offer deals on.

Posted by Julia Scott at 11:17 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

This Sunday, Feb 10, get 20% off at JCPenney when you register for their email newsletter. The discount is good in stores, online and thru the catalog. The form requires your name, address and email. JCPenney has lots of lingerie that might make a good Valentine's gift. A babydoll chemise is $20 to $22. A shorty waffle-knit robe is $27 to $31. Browse their Valentine's jewelry, including six options under $50. A Sterling silver heart necklace can be engraved with up to eight letters, for $42 (orig $125).

JCPenney also sells a number of items from Sephora. Find a store near you.

Posted by Julia Scott at 9:38 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Get 15% off your online order at Lush, which sells wildly expensive handmade soaps. Still, if you like the brand, which has some cachet, coupon code giftforyou08 will shave a few dollars off your order. Note, shipping in time for V-day is pricey.

A Long Lost Love Box with three soaps, a lotion and a bath bomb (it fizzes in water) is $50. Comes in a cute box with ribbon. A Butterfly Kiss box has four bath treats and is $31. Their individual bar soap is quite colorful.

Coupon good till March 15, 2008.

Posted by Julia Scott at 8:12 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Yet another small business closing shop. Pop's Unfurnished Furniture on Ventura Blvd in Woodland Hills is clearing out its stock and has markdowns good enough to make me wish my apartment was bigger! There is still a good selection and, contrary to the store's name, some pieces are finished. I saw a large TV hutch made of thick, hard wood for $700. A low two-door cabinet with a light brown finish, good for the foot of your bed or your media collection, was $150.

A high six-drawer dresser with roller drawers was $540, a nightstand was $120. A massive buffet, similar to the one above, was $1,000. A kitchen cart with tile on the counter part, two small drawers, two shelves and spots for four wine bottles was $250. A kitchen table that would easily seat eight was $600.

Most of the furniture is made out of maple or pine. Pop's sells varnishes and finishes. The sale will last until the stock is gone, then the company will move the Mexican Rustic furniture line into the space. They accept cash, credit card and check. All sales are final.

Visit them at 22223 Ventura Blvd. in Woodland Hills, a hair east of the Topanga entrace to 101 south/east. (818) 226-1900. Hours Mon to Sat 10 to 7, Sun 10 to 6. UPDATE: The 818 number may not be working. Pop's also lists 888-838-0707 on their Web site, but this number is not staffed Tue and Thurs.

Posted by Julia Scott at 2:07 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Amazon is having a kitchen sale with a few other home items thrown in for good measure. A steel canister with seven spatulas made of silicon is $20 (orig $50). Great for a house warming present, a college student setting up their apartment for the first time, or a chef who loves red! A leaning shelf by Global Distinctions is $50 (orig $250). Ivory sheets with a 420-thread count, queen size, are $37 (orig $100). Unclear when sale ends.

Posted by Julia Scott at 9:03 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Reader Sid writes that he recently came across the Gibson USA factory outlet store in Commerce near the Citadel Outlets. He says "this is a HUGE company that supplies most of the dinnerware to Wal-Mart, Target and many other retailers. Not only do they have tons of dinnerware in both open stock and sets at great prices, they've got flatware, glasses, fine china and some great chatckes for your pad!" Sid saw a 16-piece stoneware set for $15 that retails around $30 and says shopping there is like going to Big Lots because you never know what you're going to find.

Unfortunately, the outlet is closed on weekends. Visit them at 2410 Yates Ave. in Commerce. Hours are Mon to Fri 9 to 4:30. (323) 832-8900 x1144. Thanks, Sid!

Posted by Julia Scott at 2:26 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

Today only! Walgreens has a printable coupon for $5 off $20 good in stores only. Find a store near you.

Caveats: excludes alcohol, prescriptions, tobacco, and gift cards.

Posted by Julia Scott at 9:54 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Newhall Hardware is going out of business and liquidators are clearing out the store, according to a front page story in today's Daily News. The super sale started yesterday, so don't wait too long if you are in need of tools. They are at 24322 Main St in Newhall. Hours are 10 to 6 weekdays, 10 to 5 Sat, and 10 to 3 Sun. Unclear how long the sale will last.

Owner Victor Feany said the store wasn't profitable anymore. He bought it 33 years ago from the original owner, Don Guglielmino. Feany always wanted to run a hardware store. "My dream came true," Feany said. "I had a good 30 years here. I can't complain." Keep reading the story.

Posted by Julia Scott at 11:28 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The furniture chain Levitz is going out of business and prices are really marked down. This is a good thing for Californians because 32 of the chain's 76 stores are in the Golden State.

At the Northridge store prices were up to 80% off, according to reader Christine, who called from the store! She saw dinnerware, dish butlers, armoires, silk pillows, chairs, and down comforters on super sale. A queen sized Pacific Coast down comforter was $66 (orig $219). An "alternative down" comforter was $24 (orig $80). Power strips were $7 (orig ~$20). Online, I spotted the four-piece San Paolo bedroom set, made of dark cherry, above, for $1,500. Wonder how much it would be in the store?

Everything is final sale, no returns. Find a Levitz near you. The Northridge store is at 9301 Tampa Ave. (818) 993-1310. Hours are Mon to Sat 10 to 9 and Sun from 11 to 7. Thanks, Christine!

Posted by Julia Scott at 7:43 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Get 40% off the list price of one book that is $20 or more at Borders with this printable coupon. Need to be a member, but joining is free. For some reason, you can only join in stores. I joined and it's painless. They send 1 or 2 emails a week at most. Coupon good today and tomorrow only. Also good at Waldenbooks. Find a store near you.

Caveats: excludes previous and online purchases, gift cards, periodicals, comics, non-stock special orders, coupon books, eBooks, digital downloads, Rosetta Stone® software, shipping, and all electronics, including the Sony® Reader and the Zune™

Posted by Julia Scott at 8:20 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Get a 20% off printable coupon at Big Lots. If you can't see the coupon on the above link, sign up for to be a buzz club member (it's free). Coupon expires Feb 3, 2008. Find a store near you.

Caveats: does not apply to fireplaces or giftcards. Okay then! If you're not familiar with Big Lots, they sell overstock and random stuff, from toys to shampoo to tools. It's always hit or miss.

Posted by Julia Scott at 12:50 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Pottery Barn's winter clearance sale has lots of discounts on furniture and linens. I like this white and blue floral vase sheet set. Depending on size the duvet is $60 to $90 (orig $80 to $130) and the shams are $18 to $25 (orig $25 to $35). A Montego small bar is $300 (orig $600) and holds 10 wine bottles and at least 10 pieces of stemware, plus it has a small drawer. A red and white striped cosmetic bag is $10 (orig $20). Also many throw pillows, lamps, and holiday stuff on sale. Browse all the sale items.

Caveats: all sales final.

Posted by Julia Scott at 1:28 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Cool Web site! Rentometer.com will tell you if that monthly check you grudgingly send your landlord is higher or lower than similar apartments in your hood. Enter your address, the number of bedrooms, your rent, and how many apartments are in the building and it creates a map comparing your apartment with others nearby. A plus sign means they pay more than you, a minus sign means they pay less, an equal sign means they pay the same. Click on each sign to see how much your neighbors are paying.

The map it created for me did not list the other apartments in my building, however. The farthest apartment it listed was .63 miles away. Now I'm trying to remember the address for all my apartments going back to college! If I was getting a deal, gosh dang it I want to know about it.

Posted by Julia Scott at 7:20 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Linens -n- Things has a selection of towels, shower curtains, and bath accessories on clearance. A 20-piece bath set includes two big towels, two medium towels, and two small towels, a matching shower curtain and plastic liner, plus 12 hooks, for $50 (orig $100). White ceramic bath accessories are $8 to $20 (orig $12 to $40), including a soap dish, toothbrush holder, lotion dispenser, tissue cover, tumbler and trash can. A cheerful shower curtain with green, blue, and white horizontal stripes is $15 (orig $30).

Browse all clearance items. Unclear when the sale ends. Find a store near you.

Posted by Julia Scott at 8:24 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Get 25% off one item at Barnes & Noble with this printable coupon. Online use coupon code D8H8E4H. Expires Jan 27, 2008. Find a store near you.

Caveats: not good at their college bookstores, or for buying gift cards, gift wrapping, or a few other things. Read the fine print by scrolling down.

Posted by Julia Scott at 2:17 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Through Jan 26 JC Penny's optical sale offers 70% off frames (25% off brand name frames) and 25% off all lenses and lens options. Buy any kid's frames and get the lenses free for kids under age 16. Advance Acuvue and Oasys brands of contact lenses are buy three get one free. Check the vision plans they accept and find an optical center near you. Print the coupons here.

Posted by Julia Scott at 12:01 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Think Netflix for audio books and you have Simply Audiobooks. Get a free 30-day trial at the lending service, which has more than 22,000 titles, using code DAILYCANDY. Not sure if it's case sensitive. Choose the “1 at a time, unlimited” option at checkout for the freebie. They only lend you one audio book at a time so listen fast! Search their catalog. I'm currently reading "One Thousand Splendid Suns" by the guy who wrote "The Kite Runner" and it goes by quite fast.

Posted by Julia Scott at 8:40 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The folks at Marvin's Vacuum in Canoga Park are offering 10% off bags, belts, cleaning products, and repairs just for Bargain Hunter readers. Mention the column to get the discount, said general sale manager Greg Helm. The company has been in business for nearly 40 years and carries a variety of cleaning supplies and service built-in vacuum systems, Helm said. They also rent rug cleaners and floor polishers, sharpen scissors and knives, and make keys.

Visit them at 8342 Topanga Canyon Blvd in Canoga Park. They are open Mon thru Fri 9 to 6, Sat 9 to 5, and are closed Sundays. (818) 340-1181.

Posted by Julia Scott at 7:51 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Through Jan 19, 2008 get 15% off furniture orders of $125 or more at Target.com. Check out their furniture selection. I like this Sweden bed made of cherry veneer for $178 (orig $210). A tall media shelf is $119 (orig $140). Sale is online only.

Caveats: excludes gift cards, gift wrap, tax, or shipping and handling charges, does not apply to partner businesses or Amazon.com product purchases.

You can also get free shipping on tabs of $50 or more thru Jan 29, 2008 when you make a purchase in these categories: apparel, shoes, jewelry, handbags and accessories, cosmetics and fragrances, bedding, rugs, slipcovers, window coverings, home décor, lighting, baby gear. Look for the “free shipping with minimum purchase” logo on qualifying items.

Posted by Julia Scott at 1:06 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

It's that time of year again when Staples *really* appreciates your business and has a printable coupon for 12% off "almost everything" in its store Jan 20 to 26, 2008.

Caveats: excludes personal computers, laptops, phone cards, gift cards, and stamps. Good on in stock items only, no price matching, and cannot be combined with Staples Rewards programs. Find a store near you.

Posted by Julia Scott at 7:48 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

A whole bunch of linens and home goods are marked down during the Linens -n- Things' sale, going on thru Jan 23, 2008. All pillows are buy one get one half off, Preston bath towels are two for $10, and two shoe racks are $20 after a $10 rebate. One is a four-tier wood shelf, the other is a 10 racks high and holds 30 pairs. Three Yankee Candle fragrances are 25% off, including sage & citrus, buttercream, and home sweet home. Lots of other home deals. Look for a 20% off coupon in your local paper (usually on Sundays). Find a store near you.

Posted by Julia Scott at 12:24 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Check out the Barnes & Noble after holiday clearance sale. Books are 50% to 90% off, including classics like Wuthering Heights ($3, org $6), the Odyssey, and Aesop's Fables. The Vogue Knitting Stitchionary is $13.50 (orig $30). Calendars are 50% off. One by Georgia O'Keefe is $6.60 (orig $13) and a "Bad Cat a Day" calendar is $6 (orig $12).

Some discounts on music,DVDs, home and office stuff, and toys. But the best deals are in books and calendars. Believe it lasts through Feb 4, 2008. Find a store near you.

Posted by Julia Scott at 11:09 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Home Depot has select orchids half off Jan 18 to Feb 7, 2008 with this printable coupon. The only two orchids on the Home Depot Web site are both $50 but I bet there are lower-priced options in the store. Find a store near you.

Caveats: one per person and only certain plants are part of the sale.

Posted by Julia Scott at 8:43 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

If there's one thing I wish I could change about my apartment it would be the lack of framed artwork. I step into our neighbor's pad and a few framed prints make a world of difference. We already have decent couches (brown leather, from Macy's) and the place isn't too cluttered so it could benefit from art. (Even I'm tiring of the three small oil paintings I made in a class years ago. A canvas of two-dimensional yarn - how did I convince myself to put that on the wall?)

The Web site Ezine articles suggests looking for cheap framed art at estate sales, auctions, consignment stores, and Internet sites. I visited TheFind.com, a site that list all sorts of items - not just art - according to unbiased and objective product rankings. I.e. not by how much retailers have paid to get a high ranking. Dozens of pages of results for a "framed art" search included a variety of traditional, modern and abstract pieces by known and lesser known artists. A lot of it seemed cliched, but then again, this is not the place to find original art.

I think I could look at Andy Warhol's piece, "Portrait of Maurice," or a black lab, for a long while. It is $199. A print of Farbstudie Quadrate, 1913 by Wassily Kandinsky, is $195. So how do you know if you should buy a piece of art? My friend Rachelle said her Dad told her that you should only buy a piece of art if you want to look at it everyday for the rest of your life. Of course, lower prices give you more leeway. I think that pooch poster is worth five years, at least.

Posted by Julia Scott at 2:09 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

UPDATE: This coupon has expired. If anybody still has a link to it that works, let me know and I will post it.

PREVIOUSLY: Get $10 off any houseplant at Lowe's until Jan 31, 2008 with this printable coupon. Coupon is intended for folks who sign up for Learn2Grow, an online gardener's resource club with emails about products and growing tips. Signing up requires sharing your name, email, phone number (I use a fake one - there's no garden tip so urgent I need to be phoned), and password. You can opt in for their newsletter and choose which gardening topics interest you. Find a store near you.

Posted by Julia Scott at 12:44 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

I've heard there are wildly cheap prices for prescription glasses online so I decided to investigate. I won't be buying for myself as my current pair has a relatively new prescription (yes, my eyes are still changing) but I am considering getting contacts. As much as I like my current pair for everyday stuff, when I get dressed up to go out on the town they make me look like a lawyer! Not my goal.

Anywho, 39DollarGlasses.com has dozens of pairs for - surprise - $39. The NY company says they have such low prices because they save a ton of money operating only online. A plastic pair similar to mine are $39 (I paid about $130 for them), and with my light prescription the total came to $64, including an extra $25 for anti-reflective coating. Single vision reading glasses also start at $39, bifocals with a line start at $79, bifocals without the line starts at $89. Once you choose the type of lenses, there are these optional add-ons: high-index lenses are $50, tints run $10 to $60, polarization is $50 and polycarbonate polarization is $89. Glasses come with a hard case.

My last bill from Lenscrafters for the prescription only was $128 (complete pair about $250). Yowza! For your next pair I'd recommend browsing in stores to get a good idea of what you want, perhaps even take pictures of the frames you like with a digital camera, then check online to see if you can find something similar. No brand names here, but a decent selection. Sunglasses too!

At the bottom of their home page you can read about their return policy: "We unconditionally guarantee all our frames and lenses to be delivered exactly as they were ordered and free of defects." Read about the eyeglass materials.

Posted by Julia Scott at 7:32 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

A few coupons at the home furnishing store Restoration Hardware. Get 10% off of previously reduced merchandise online with coupon code H08AGS10 until Jan 13, 2008. Or get $100 off a $400 purchase online or over the phone thru Jan 14, 2008 with coupon code HEMJP801. Coupons may not work with items already marked down during their bath sale, when everything for the bath is 20% off (until Feb 3, 2008).

Both coupons had high rates of success on retailmenot.com, where you plug in a store name and see if they have any appropriate coupons. Find a RH store near you.

Posted by Julia Scott at 2:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Magazine.com has an offer for $5 off Women's Health ($10), Highlights for Kids ($25) and Time ($11). Plus, using eBates you will get 25% back on your purchase. Read more about eBates here. If you haven't already signed up for eBates use my email as a referal, julia.scott@dailynews.com, and we both get a bonus. $5 discount ends Mar 31, 2008.

Posted by Julia Scott at 1:34 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Much of their furniture is marked down up to 50%, like a three-piece bedroom set that includes a queen-sized canopy bed, dresser and nightstand for $699 (orig $1,497). The Morgan Chair, a modern upholstered seat with clean lines, is $199 (orig $249). A two-door glass cabinet, good for displaying dishes or books, is $399 (orig $499). Also a lot of end tables, bookshelves, plus a few sofas, entertainment shelving, and wine displays.
See all their sale furniture.

Visit stores early for best selection. Find a store near you. Furniture prices good to Feb 2, 2008. They are happy to give you a line of credit and no payments until Jan 2009 if you spend more than $699.

Posted by Julia Scott at 8:42 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

For once Woot is not sold out when I check their site. But each day's item is only for sale for one day and they go fast. At midnight they start selling a new product. Today's item is the Honeywell ceramic space heater with remote for $26 +$5 shipping. Amazon has it for $50. Woot.com's pitch for their product is funny enough to post here:
"How many times has THIS happened to YOU???

Your spouse: Time to go to my aunt’s house for dinner.
You: Eh, I’d rather not. It’s too cold over there.
Your spouse: I want a divorce.

We all know people who just won’t turn up their thermostats – although we WISH we DIDN’T! Now there’s a SOLUTION - a solution called the Honeywell SureSet Ceramic Heater! Take it along when you visit that chilly cheapskate in your life, use it to warm up your billiard room, or keep it in your cubicle! Then watch what happens as your life gets a whole lot WARMER!

Your boss: Did you finish those reports?
You: No, I was too busy setting up my new Honeywell SureSet Ceramic Heater.
Your boss: Well, don’t get too comfortable – I’m making you my new vice-president! You’ll need that heater in your corner office!

But that’s ONLY the BEGINNING! The remote control lets you adjust, readjust, and threeadjust the temperature from ACROSS THE ROOM, while the programmable thermostat, auto shut-off timer, and oscillating sweep work together to keep you WARM! Heat up your home, your office, and your LIFE with the Honeywell SureSet Ceramic Heater!

Your child: My therapist has really helped me realize how horrible my childhood was, and how it’s mainly your fault.
You: Maybe this Honeywell SureSet Ceramic Heater will help.
Your child: I love you, Daddy or Mommy!"

Read the mostly positive comments about this heater on Woot forums.

Posted by Julia Scott at 9:12 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Found a few things worth noting in the Pottery Barn catalog that arrived yesterday. Two types of bar shelving, one that holds 6 bottles of wine and one that has wire racks to hang glasses, are $40 each (orig $55 each). They come in black, brown, or white. A bronzed tree that holds cards or photos in its leaves (like a fancy French memory board) is $30 (orig $89), and measures 27 x 3 x 34 inches. I think the 3 inches depth is mostly at the bottom where the trunk sticks out. I don't see the exact tree online (try ordering over the phone at 800-922-5507, product 23-9243528) but there is a similar one for $35 (orig $39). For those Christmas fiends, a set of 4 twig reindeer place card holders are $14 (orig $29). It comes with 20 cards that you write someone's name on then the reindeer holds it in its antlers. Search all their sale stuff.

Posted by Julia Scott at 8:32 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The fancy schmancy kitchen store Sur la Table is having their annual winter sale with select kitchen equipment marked down 20 to 50 percent. These categories are 20% off: white ware, gadgets, and placemats. See all the sale categories. A set of 4 oval ramekins great for creme brulee or snacks are $5.56 (orig $7). An elegant crystal lead-free decander is $24 (orig $30). A set of 8 south of the border Mexican spices comes in neat little tins, above, for $10 (orig $40). Spices include Achiote Seed (2.5 oz), Epazote (.85 oz), Canella (.40 oz), Chipotle Chili Flakes (1.4 oz), Ancho Chili Powder (2 oz), Mexican Blast (.80 oz), Fajita Seasoning (2.5 oz.) and Adobo (4.0 oz).

Unclear when sale ends. Find a store near you.

Posted by Julia Scott at 2:28 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

He is sick as a dog but still a hard core bargain hunter. While filling two prescriptions yesterday, Hubby noticed a sign at the entrance to CVS offering a $25 giftcard for each new prescription filled there there. He waited for his meds then asked about the discount while being rung up. An employee told him it had already expired so he paid his bill and asked to see the manager. Hubby explained to the manager that the sign still advertised the gift cards and showed his receipt. The manager said they would take down the sign and gave him a $50 gift card. Score!

A lot of chain pharmacies are offering specials to attract customers away from the remaining independent pharmacies. Rite Aid will give you a $20 gift card for transferring a prescription. Look in the Sunday newspaper ads for more offers. I feel like I see them almost every week.

Posted by Julia Scott at 12:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

If you're not within driving distance of the $4 calendar sale (3 for $10) at Pegasus bookstores in Berkeley, I know you are burning up with desire to get a cheap 2008 calendar.

You could try a 99-cent store. Hubby went by one yesterday and found the selection limited to black labs, those old fashioned black and white pics of little kids where one has a daisy and a yellow hat, and girly calendars. He happily replaced last year's black lab calendar with a new black lab calendar. Poses include closeups, side profiles, running dogs, and leaping dogs. All black. All labs. That calendar goes in the study.

Judy Zwolak, a blogger for Suite101, also has a few suggestions. Overstock.com has a good selection of wall calendars mostly in the $8 to $10 range with a few exceptions. Office depot has a $10 monthly wall calendar and Vista Print has a wall calendar you can customize with your own photo for each month that goes for $13 plus shipping. Great for grandparents!

UPDATE: Calendars.comhas some 2008 calendars half off. Use code CSDOWN8 for an additional 20%. Get free shipping with code CCUSFS27. Slickdeals.net lists some additional codes which you may be able to stack:
MS815 for 15% off
EM157 for 15% off
TFFS8 for 10% off AND free shipping
FS9358 for free shipping
Hope it works for you!

Posted by Julia Scott at 10:46 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Through Jan 27, 2008 buy one frame at Aaron Brothers and get a second frame for a penny. The second frame doesn't have to be the same as the first. The sale is in stores only, not online, and applies only to the frames in stock, on sale or at full price. This sale may be the one I need to finally get my wedding pictures developed and up on the wall! Find a store near you.

Caveats: does not include custom frames or digital photo frames.

Posted by Julia Scott at 7:43 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Once a year the Container Store, seller of organizing dreams, marks down their stuff-ordering Elfa systems by 30 percent. There are shelving and drawer arrangements for every mess: closets, the neglected office and the didn't-we-just-clean-5-minutes-ago kitchen. They even tackle the room most people don't even attempt to organize: the garage. A perky office system goes for $325 (orig $464), a kid's closet system goes for $347 (orig $497). Clearly, the sale is timed to coincide with new year resolve to get organized so make sure if you shell out for a bunch of baskets and hangers you have time to put the whole thing together. Find a store near you.

Posted by Julia Scott at 1:55 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Lighten the burden of organizing your finances with this half-off code for three Quicken products, good when you buy them directly through software maker Intuit. (Staples.com sells the three products for twice as much so it really is a 50% discount.) Use code 4855359860 to get Quicken Deluxe 2008 for $30, Quicken Premier 2008 for $45, and Quicken Home & Business 2008 for $50. Not too shabby.

Caveats: Unclear when the deal ends. Enter the code in the "Special Offer Code" box when checking out. If you don't see the special offer code box you may need to clear your cookies and try one more time. Thanks Slickdeals.net!

Posted by Julia Scott at 10:42 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Get a free address stamp or address labels through VistaPrint. They also do free business cards (that out you on the back by saying they were free). For the address stamp you get 10 style choices, 6 of which have one line for your name and two for your address. The other four say FAX, COPY, THANK YOU, or PAID. Useful for a business owner! Dang, you do have to pay for shipping, which is $5.45 for the "slow" mail that takes 21 days. Still, this is a step up from the labels charities send me. Unclear when deal ends.

Posted by Julia Scott at 12:11 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Get 20% off at Pottery Barn with coupon code 79115-04, according to retailmenot.com. The site says it worked for 73 percent of 118 folks who voted. May also work on sale merchandise and over the phone (800-922-5507). Unclear if it also works in the store. Maybe it's time I finally use that $46 gift card I still have from my wedding!

Posted by Julia Scott at 11:45 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Online only. Gotta use your mastercard. Expires Dec 31. Get 40% off one book online using code X8X9X3K at checkout. Read the members coupon, or the non-members coupon. If you have not already read "Eat, Pray, Love" by Elizabeth Gilbert, borrow it from a friend, check it out from the library, or buy a copy. It's good.

More caveats: good only on books but not textbooks or at B&N's college stores.

Posted by Julia Scott at 8:30 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

If you want to cut down on unwanted catalogs, check out Catalog Choice. The Web site is sponsored by The Ecology Center, which wants to cut back on the 19 billion paper catalogs discarded each year. To put your name on the opt out list, fill out their online registration form, find which catalogs you don't want from their list, and decline them. Catalog Choice sends the bad news onto the folks sending you the glossy sale pitches. Unfortunately, it can take 10 weeks to stop getting the catalogs.

Signing up helps cut back on a lot of waste:
* Number of trees used – 53 million trees
* Pounds of paper used – 3.6 million tons of paper
* Energy used to produce this volume of paper – 38 trillion BTUs, enough to power 1.2 million homes per year
* Contribution to global warming – 5.2 million tons of carbon dioxide emissions, equal to the annual emissions of two million cars
* Waste water discharges from this volume of paper – 53 billion gallons of water, enough to fill 81,000 Olympic-sized swimming pools

Posted by Julia Scott at 10:55 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Could it be true? A two-year subscription to Time Out New York - the Big Apple's going out guide - for FREE? Well this link claims to be the real deal. I signed up my sister, who is a nursing student in NYC, and hopefully she will not just be getting a mountain of junk mail. Send it to your friends and family who are loud, pushy, New Yorkers - a wonderful breed when you are one of them!

Posted by Julia Scott at 8:21 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The Valley Indoor Swap Meet is closing! Their final day in business is Sunday, Dec 30 and there are sure to be some good deals as vendors try to sell off their remaining stock. They are not closing out of choice, (so you will hear some grumbling,) but because the land owner sold the property to a developer. Meet vendors sell an incredible variety of stuff, from low-quality plastic products to beautiful silk flowers, clothing, and jewelry. Visit them at 6701 Variel Avenue in Woodland Hills. (818) 340-9120.

Posted by Julia Scott at 7:59 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Get up to 50% off during Smith & Hawken's winter clearance sale. They have markdowns on furniture, faux wreaths, holiday lighting and decorations, and ornaments. This fall leaf and acorn wreath is $34 (orig $99), and this woven Belmont dining table is $300 (orig $795). Looks like they are out of matching chairs, but surely you can find something passable to go with. Seeing how Smith & Hawken almost never has sales, this is a good time to check out their discounts. You can also get a 15% off coupon if you sign up for the mailing list. You can always unsubscribe later. Find a store near you.

Posted by Julia Scott at 1:12 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Get 25% off your online purchase at Barnes & Noble with coupon code L8A7K8V, which you can enter at checkout. Expires Dec 18. Caveats: excludes gift cards, memberships, gift-wrapping, and textbooks. Cannot be combined with other coupons and can only be used once.

Posted by Julia Scott at 12:52 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Ends today! Get 20% off Starbucks merchandise and whole bean coffee, which are both excellent holiday gifts for the Joe addict in your life. Find a store near you.

Posted by Julia Scott at 12:43 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Get 25% off one item at Barnes & Noble with this printable coupon. In the email from B&N that contained this coupon it said you had to be a member, but the coupon itself does not mention anything about membership, so I think you can slide in. Looks like you can use it once in the store and once online. For online shopping use code N6R7C4J at checkout. The 25% discount will be applied to the highest-priced item in your cart. Expires Dec 18, 2007.

Caveats: cannot be used at B&N college bookstores, gift cards, memberships, textbooks, video games or used books.

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

Graveyardmall.com has some faux retro tin clocks for less than $10 each on sale. Their deals change daily so don't wait to check out this link if you are interested. There's a Betty Boop one and a big bass lake fishing one, both $6.39. Standard shipping is $7.

Posted by Julia Scott at 11:46 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

I checked a few stores to compare prices on poinsettias, those festive red plants that add a little more holiday to your home. I need to pick up a few and figured you might too! The Longs Drugs flyer advertised 6-inch plants for $6 each, Anawalt has 4-inch plants for $4 and 6-inch plants for $6, Albertsons and Ralphs have 6-inch plants for $8, Vons has "small" plants for $7.50 and large ones for $26, Trader Joe's 6-inch plants for $6.29 and bigger ones for $9 to $20. Remember, prices will vary by store.

Posted by Julia Scott at 8:19 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Get 12% off at Staples this week with a customer appreciation coupon . Good thru Dec 8, 2007. In stores only. Find a store near you.

Caveats: not good on personal computers, laptops, gift cards, phone cards and postage stamps.

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

Barnes & Noble offers 40% off this list of bestsellers now until Dec 3, 2007 when you buy in the store only.

Stephen Colbert's "I am America (and so can You!)" for $16.06
"The Daring Book for Girls," by Andrea Buchanan for $14.85
"Olivia Helps with Christmas," for $11.39
"1776: The Illustrated Edition," by David McCullough for $39
"Ernest Hemingway Complete and Unabridged: Four novels" for $10.36
"The Chronicles of Narnia Pop-up book" for $24

And a few other titles. See the complete list here. Find a store near you.

Posted by Julia Scott at 12:58 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The flyer says it all. Thanks, Jen!

Posted by Julia Scott at 12:18 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

EyeCare America is giving free eye exams for seniors with a few caveats. They are for folks who have not been diagnosed with AMD (age-related macular degeneration), are age 65 and older, US citizens or legal residents, have not seen an ophthalmologist in three or more years, and do not belong to an HMO or the Veteran's Affairs. To see if you qualify call 800-222-3937. To learn more about EyeCare's free exams go here. Thanks, Dolores!

Posted by Julia Scott at 10:54 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Eastern Mountain Sports is having a sale today thru Nov 25, 2007. They have gift suggestions for under $25, including a collapsible bowl and cup set made of food-grade silicone by Guyot Designs for $12 (orig $15). Lightweight and package for the outdoorsy person on your holiday list. They also make gift suggestions by type of sport, gender, and have novelty categories.

As EMS' name suggests, there are no stores on the western coast, but they do have a decent Web site and a lot of the items are similar to what is sold at REI if you have to try something on first.

Here's how EMS suggests getting triple savings:
-Save 20-40% off regular retail during the sale (caveats: not valid on Merrell, Patgonia, or UGG footwear; telemark skis, boots, or bindings; or snowboards, boots, or bindings).
-Get a $20 Gear Bucks Card for every $100 you spend between 11/21/07 and 12/18/07. Then redeem your $20 card on in-stock items between 12/25/07 and 1/29/08.
-Qualify for FREE Standard shipping when you spend $125 or more online or via phone.

Posted by Julia Scott at 8:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Get two subscriptions to Real Simple for $24 with this offer. Looks like a good deal if other prices are any indication. Amazon has one 1-year subscription for $23, CheapMags.com has it for $29. The coupon inside this month's Real Simple is no better: three subscriptions for $44 ($14.60 each). Unclear when deal ends. I gobbled up the current issue last night and loved their gift guide and tips on how to NOT feel guilty. They also routinely have coupons for White House Black Market, Chico's, Eddie Bauer and Coldwater Creek. Thanks, Mouse!

Posted by Julia Scott at 11:05 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The
Scholastic Holiday Book Fair is coming up with locations in Thousand Oaks and Culver City. I heard about this from a friend who has gone in past years and reports "the warehouse is HUGE and the deals are excellent...Although kids are allowed, it is not "Small Children" friendly as it is held in a large, sometimes very cold warehouse!"

Find a location near you. Thousand Oaks sale is Friday, 12/14: 12 PM to 6:30 PM and Saturday, 12/15: 9 AM to 6 PM.

Caveats: The sale is exclusively for book fair chairpeople and volunteers, registered homeschoolers, and School Personnel: principals, administrators, faculty, teachers, librarians, and media specialists. But I'm told if you are volunteer at a school, temple or church you will be able to get in.

Here are some of the deals: up to 80 % off bestsellers, chapter books, beginning readers, and activities. Up to 50% off books for all ages, software, and school supplies. Up to 30% off newest releases. Also a lot of $1 or less items. Thanks, Jen!

Posted by Julia Scott at 10:47 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Reader Diana writes in with a recommendation for Renoma Lighting in Van Nuys. The Web site has scanned pages of their products but not item by item details.

"This is a factory outlet and I have bought three sets of lamps - a dining room ceiling fixture, two pendant lights for the kitchen and a floor reading lamp. The prices are factory - about 50% of retail stores and what is really great, if you see a lamp you like and the fixture is bronze, they can make it in chrome or whatever you want. They customize the finish and the shade, etc...I probably will never shop for lighting in a retail store again."

Pretty strong words. I myself have not been there and cannot vouch for it. If you are interested, visit them at 14617 Keswick Street in Van Nuys. (818) 782-2427 or renomalighting@aol.com. Let me know what you think!

Posted by Julia Scott at 9:59 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Amazon.com is giving $5 instant rebates on 150 magazine subscriptions. The discount comes during the last step of checkout. For these mags one year is $3: Marie Claire, Teen Vogue, Redbook, Esquire and CosmoGIRL! Many others are just $5: Wired, Harper's Bazaar, Seventeen, Good Housekeeping, and PSM Independent Playstation Magazine. Oprah is $18 for one year. No code required. Thru Dec 31. See all the mags with the $5 rebate. Remember, mags make fun holiday gifts.

Posted by Julia Scott at 9:08 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Get 20% off one item at Linens 'n' Things with this printable coupon. Good in stores, not online. Expires Dec 31, 2007. I've gotten a lot of good use out of shoe organizers like this 9-pair rack for $30 (before coupon). They also have a limited selection of tablecloths and linens for your Thanksgiving table. Of course, those will go on super sale right after the holiday.

Caveats: not good on brands like SharperImage, All-Clad, J.A. Henckels, Tempur-Pedic, Godiva Chocolates and a few more. Read the fine print at the bottom of the coupon to make sure it's good on the thing you covet. Find a store near you.

Posted by Julia Scott at 10:52 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Get $10 off your purchase of $50 or more at Petsmart with coupon code NEXTTEN, or sometimes it automatically deducts $10 from your cart. Unclear when it expires so don't wait if you need something for the furry companion in your life! Sadly, I do not have any pets but I can still shop vicariously for you! This pink studded leather collar is perfect for a sassy canine, for $15 to $25 depending on size. This kitty cave also looks rather enticing, for $28. Maybe it's time to get a hummingbird feeder for the wild birds outside. Remember to type the coupon code in CAPITAL LETTERS.

Posted by Julia Scott at 11:56 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Get 5% to 10% off most everything at Sears during their friends and family sale. Unclear when it ends, though. Some items say they are discounted thru 11/16/07, others
are marked down thru 11/17/07. A few items are a little more than 10% off, TV's are 5% off. Buy with your Sears Card and get an extra $250 rebate with a 50-inch TV purchase, a $150 rebate with a 40-49-inch TV and a $50 rebate for TV's under 40 inches. No code needed. Find a store near you.

Posted by Julia Scott at 9:23 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)