Don't have that kind of motivation? Then adopt a dog from the East Valley Animal Shelter this weekend. The economic downturn means there's lots of Fidos and Fluffys being dropped off (per this Daily News article.) Believe me, it's the ultimate motivation. And talk about a bargain. It's less than $100 to get the animal with shots, license, microchip.

I haven't used my membership for the Woodland Hills Gold's membership since I adopted Bella, my energetic yellow lab in September and Beastie, my even more energetic Newfoundland/border collie in November when he was still a pup -- a BIG pup. Now my workout is all about tiring out the doggies so they don't destroy the house when I'm gone. That gets me out of bed like not even my muffin top can. I run with them an hour on weekday mornings around the neighborhood (early, to avoid the heat) and then hike with them on the weekends. (I like the Angeles National forest trails via Tujunga or Alta Dena, and the Verdugo Mountains in Burbank/Glendale. Lots of excellent trails where dogs are allowed, and not too many people.) I've saved money and got in good shape. It's all good.

And now I have extra money to spend on outdoor gear, yay! See how it's all related? And there's few things better than perusing through the REI outlet online. So many great deals! And you can avoid shipping fees by ordering your stuff and having it sent to the Northridge REI on Devonshire (in that mall at Reseda with the Albertsons) for free pickup _ or the Santa Monica one, if you're on that side of the hills. They e-mail when it's ready. I got a mondo sized dog backpack for big Beastie for only 29.99 (that's him at right in his old, puny sized backpack). Now he's my Beast of burden on the trail. Water please, Mr. Beast!

So many great deals from the site. Like this cute fitness top that's half off. I like it in quasar, whatever that is. Or these Wright socks for $3.93. I looove me some Wrightsocks and highly recommend them for any runner. I will only run in these socks. They are double layered to keep the blisters away. It works.

If REI isn't your thing and want to get all reusable (it's green!), check out Play it Again Sports, the store for reused sports gear. There's one right down Reseda at Nordhoff in that mall on the northwest corner of that intersection, with the McDonalds.

-- Post by Mariel

Bargain Hunter readers can receive half-off an animal massage session from Buddha Dog Animal Massage. Regular rates start at $30. Sessions are with a Registered Vet Tech and Certified Animal Massage Therapist, are at your location in the L.A. area, and will include Acupressure, TTouch, Stone Massage and Reiki, as well as a consultation, physical exam, and a walk before and after if desired (recommended). Massage is especially helpful for arthritic and senior animals, as well as growing young animals, athletic and competitive dogs, working dogs, recovering animals, and fearful and stressed animals, but offers healing benefits to all animals. For more information, please see http://buddhadog.com or call 818-300-4478. Thank You!

No, thank you, Buddhadog!!

This might sound freaky to some of you, but honestly, it can work. I had a crazy Maine Coon cat called Chuy who had some sort of obsessive tail twitchiness that the vet wanted to control with drugs. Instead, I took him to a pet chiropractor in Pasadena who used a form of spinal massage that calmed him right down. All she had to do was lay one hand on him and he would start this insane purr and relax into a puddle of happy grey fur. So, if you have a hyper, weird, sickly, depressed or otherwise out-of-sorts animal, this might be the ticket.

--Post by Mariel

The Saturday Sale continues on June 28, July 26, September 20, November 8, November 28 and 29, December 6, December 13 and December 20.

You get 60 minutes to play the game free. I tried Insaniquariam and believe me, after three minutes I had enough! But I'm not the computer game type. You can pay $30 to download a "complete" version of a game if you want. Read more about them.

Thanks, David!

Caveats: good only at H&M stores in the United States. Find one near you.

Here's a snippet of some of the column's advice:

Even the highest tax rebates aren't enough to outfit a house with solar-energy panels, but they could easily pay for a pack of compact fluorescent light bulbs, with hundreds left to spend on comfy yoga pants and soft T-shirts at American Apparel. Or you could invest the money in replacing the biggest energy-sucker of most homes - the refrigerator - with a more energy-efficient one.

Other ideas are putting up awnings over windows to keep your house cooler (and give less to the city Department of Water and Power for AC costs - that's a win-win) planting vegetables and fruits (save money and eat organic!) in place of lawns or heat-retaining concrete patios.

There are endless ways to spend your rebate on candy, and save it, too. But there is one thing you ought to make a conscious choice not to spend your money on: gasoline. From an environmental standpoint, one of the worst ways you could spend your money is at the pump. Not only will it not go far, but it only helps justify (for a short time) gas-guzzling vehicles. The oil companies have enough of my money already.

What are you going to do with you EcStim check? Let us know!

"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!

The owner started the funeral home because she wanted her "four-legged children" treated the same as the two-legged ones. Pet Angel handles arrangements for all sorts of pets, from dogs to iguanas, with services starting at $150 and going up to thousands of dollars.

Attitudes are changing, clearly. I guess I'm a little behind the times. My first thought about how to dispose of a furry friend is to grab a shovel and dig a hole in the back yard.

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.

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.

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

+Weekly subway pass: $25
+Hands free device so I don't get a ticket when the new CA law takes effect July 1: $6
+Ticket to the Museum of Modern Art: $20
+Shoes (just in case I spot an awesome pair): $60
+Dinners out: $75
+Presents for friends who let us crash on their floor: $50
+Lunch at Ibby's Falafel in Jersey City: $5
+Bus fare to wedding: $26.50
+Drinks with friends (multiple nights): $50
+Run around Central Park Loop: free!

That's already $317.50 and I didn't budget for breakfast or lunch, which we will hopefully take care of with a trip to the grocery store.

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.

Bead hoop earrings are $5 (orig $7.50), thongs and floral tanks are $5. A white beach tote with pink and red dots, above, is $12.50 (orig $14.50). Green espadrille flats are $15 (orig $19.50). A women's plus sized embroidered top comes in three colors and is $22.50 (orig $26.50). Unclear when the sale ends.