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A service of the News & Record, Greensboro, North Carolina
As mentioned on WFMY this morning, UNCG is hosting its annual "Cram and Scram" rummage sale now until to 3 p.m.
It will be held in the Cone Ball room at the Elliot University Center.
You can save some dough on used books, supplies, furniture, clothes and other stuff students are leaving behind.
As mentioned in my Savvy Shopper column today, the upcoming Triad Health Project's Designers Care event features deals on hundreds of items donated by furniture manufacturers, showrooms, retailers and designers that are significantly below wholesale.
It will be May 30-31 at The Village at North Elm, 303-H Pisgah Church Road in Greensboro. Hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. May 30 and noon to 4 on May 31.
A preview of the event will be from 7 to 10 p.m. May 29. Although the regular event is free, the preview costs $35 for one ticket or $50 for two tickets. Call 272-1654 or purchase them online at triadhealthproject.com.
Designer's Care raised about $30,000 in each of the past two years.
It helps keep Triad Health Project open and allows case managers such as Allyson Clark to work with people such as Chris Tinsley, who has juggled cancer, back pain and HIV, all at once.
Get the 411 on using coupons by former News & Record Savvy Shopper columnist and biz writer Lanita Withers.
She's teaching a coupon class May 30 at 10 a.m. at Piedmont International Church.
The class starts with basics including where to get coupons. It will also offer tips for saving money at the grocery store, drug stores, department stores and more.
Plus how to buy enough groceries and household items at the lowest price until they fall to rock-bottom prices again.
Piedmont International Church is at 206-D S. Westgate Drive in Greeensboro.
Questions? Just ask in the comments section of her Web site.
Of the more than 66 percent of Americans who tried to negotiate a better deal in the past six months, most were successful, according to a new Consumer Reports survey.
Hotel rates gave you the best shot: 83 percent were able to haggle for better deals.
Among those haggling over their cell phone bills and clothes, 81 percent were successful.
Other categories: Discounts on electronics and furniture (71 percent successful), credit-card fees (62 percent), and medical bills (58 percent).
Consumer Reports offers these haggling tips:
1. Be courteous. Demanding a discount? Good luck with that one.
2. Timing is key. Try it later in the month when salespeople are trying to meet their quotas. Evening or early hours means clerks have more time to hear your pitch.
3. Haggle away from other customers. Sales clerks don’t want others asking for deals also.
4. Research prices and store policies. Also keep in mind that at chain stores, for example, salespeople often don’t have the power to offer a discount. Try asking a manager or supervisor instead. If you can’t get a price discount, ask for free shipping, delivery, or installation.
5. Check how long it's been on sale. Retailers are often more willing to cut prices on merchandise that has been on the sales floor longer.
6. Offer to pay cash. Merchants don’t like to pay transaction fees to credit card companies.
7. Know when to walk away. A powerful weapon in your haggling arsenal is being able to walk away and spend your money elsewhere.
Sometimes trying to pinch pennies can backfire. And, boy, can it can be painful.
Exhibit A is Carol Taddei, a woman featured in a recent New York Times article who tried to save some bucks by replacing her toilet on her own.
"An unlucky few like Ms. Taddei have learned that being thrifty sometimes comes at a high price and can bring along with it a new scourge of the times: saver’s remorse," Times reporter Susan Saulny writes.
Other do-it-yourselfers have suffered injuries including back and shoulder problems.
Sometimes dropping a line to a company to show a little appreciation for a job well done can reap a reward.
Take what happened to Bargain Blog reader Susan Haug regarding a new type of dog food.
"I went to purina.com to give them praise about a new dog food that they have called Chef Michael's," Susan wrote to me in an e-mail. "They sent me three coupons for two cans or pouches of Purina brand pet food, any size, any variety, up to $3.26 each coupon!"
Susan suggests you give it a whirl, too.
"By taking a few moments to show my appreciation for a product — I got all of these money saving coupons! It works with a lot of companies, try it!"
So, have you tried this and did it pay off?
As mentioned in my Savvy Shopper column, Valerie Senning gets a free copy of Microsoft Office's home and student edition software for the Mac for her money-saving tip regarding using leftover toothpaste to scrub out the bathroom gout.
Here's some other advice she offers:
Save old socks (ones with holes or missing mates), T-shirts and underwear to use them for Swifter cleaning pads.
"The re-fills in the store are quite expensive and this idea works just as well," Valerie told me in an e-mail. "Simply cut the item to fit your Swifter pad and viola you have your own pads and they work great. Again, not only does this save money, but it is also environmentally friendly."
Another suggestion is to remove lint or pet hair from clothing, furniture, etc. using those address labels or stickers you get in the mail that you don't need.
"I save all of these in my junk drawer and anytime I need to remove lint I pull these stickers out and, presto, I have my own lint roller," she says. "They work just as well as the lint rollers you buy in the store and the best thing is they are free."
Full-time Web writer and frequent guest blogger Kathryn Vercillo has agreed to write occasional blog posts on topics regarding how to save a buck for the Bargain Blog. Today's topic: getting that celebrity look without spending a fortune.
Top 5 Sites to Find Celebrity Styles for Less
Do you yearn to look as stylish as the celebrities that are featured on blogs, magazines and television? If you do then you’ve probably already looked into the cost of wearing the clothes that the stars are wearing and you know that there’s no way that you’re going to be able to get the items they wear within the budget that you have. That doesn’t mean, however, that you can’t look as snazzy as they do. You simply need to know how to recreate the looks of your favorite celebrities with lower-cost items and you need to know where to get those items. Your best bet for getting this type of education is to check out some of the top blogs that provide you with insight into the secrets of getting celebrity styles for less.
1. In Style This is one of the best sites for finding frugal celebrity fashions because of the fact that it gives readers insight into the style of so many different stars. Everyone from Jennifer Lopez to Zoe Saldana has been featured on this site. And what’s also great is that the site is simple. It shows you a photo of the celebrity wearing an outfit that you might crave. It then suggests bargain-priced stores where you can go to get similar items in order to put together the same look for less. People who are interested in exactly copying the style of their favorite celebrities will find this to be the best site to start looking for that information.
2. Style Notes This site almost exactly mirrors the In Style site in terms of the layout of what is offered here. It’s another great place to go to see the outfits worn by your favorite celebrities and to find out where to get the same items at a discount. This site offers easy links to the stores where each item might be sold. Remember to do some comparison shopping and to use online discount codes to further reduce the cost of recreating these looks.
3. Viva Fashion Blog This is a great fun blog that is designed in a manner similar to the above two sites. What’s different about this one is that it seems to offer the best bargains in terms of where it is suggested for you to buy the items to recreate the look seen on the celebrity. Many of the recreated looks featured on this site total out at less than $100 for the entire outfit including accessories.
4. Style List This site simplifies things even more in that it focuses on just one single item at a time. Instead of teaching you to recreate an entire celebrity look, it points to certain items that are particularly hot among the stars right now (such as a specific handbag) and then offers a variety of suggestions for getting a similar item at a reduced price.
5. Splendicity This blog has great archives of celebrity fashions but it takes a different approach than the other sites to teaching you about recreating the look for yourself. Instead of telling you where you can find similar items at a lower cost, this blog shows you the tricks behind the look that the celebrity has put together. For example, it shows that a certain style of shoe was paired with a certain type of jeans to get this particular look. This lets frugal shoppers learn more about putting a look together so that they can combine what’s already in their own closets with some new key pieces to get celebrity style without paying celebrity prices.
It doesn’t take a genius to learn how to recreate celebrity fashions on a frugal shopping budget. It simply takes the time to do a little bit of research. You can do this by using these top sites to find out what celebrities are wearing, how they’re choosing their looks and where to go to get similar items at a bargain. Before you know it, you’ll be looking like a million bucks.
Kathryn is a writer for Promotionalcodes.org.uk, which gives away free promotional codes (like this Argos discount code) and also publishes money saving tips.
Check out her blog here.
Also follow her updates on Twitter.
Getting ready for an annual camping and charter fishing trip off the Outer Banks with some friends by stocking up on some essentials. That includes replacing a fishing rod that disappeared off my kayak during a fishing trip in North Myrtle Beach last fall.
Golden rule of fishing: the second you turn your back or become distracted, a whopper will strike. In my case, it struck, and struck hard. So hard that it pulled my rod and reel right off the kayak and into the deep blue yonder, never to be seen again.
I used a coupon in the Attractions Dining and Value Guide that's good toward $20 off the purchase of $100 or more at Gander Mountain.
New York Times tech columnist David Pogue writes about Novatel's MiFi 2200, a 3G Wi-Fi router that lets you surf the 'net anywhere, not just at places such as cafes and libraries that offer free Wi-Fi access.
"But imagine if you could get online anywhere you liked — in a taxi, on the beach, in a hotel with disgustingly overpriced Wi-Fi — without messing around with cellular modems," Pogue writes. "What if you had a personal Wi-Fi bubble, a private hot spot, that followed you everywhere you go?"
It's available from Verizon starting in mid-May ($100 per a two-year contract, after rebate).
But here's the part I'm loving: you don't have to lock yourself into a contract. My cellphone is pay-as-you go, and I've been hoping that there would eventually be a similar option regarding surfing the 'net.
I mean, I'm online a good chunk of my day due to my job, but I usually don't need it on the go. Same goes at night. I'm at home. However, I'd love to able to hop online using my laptop during a long road trip to the beach or visiting relatives over the holidays without any strings attached.
So here's the deal: you can buy a one-day pass ($15 for 24 hours), although you'll have to shell out $270 for the cost of the MiFi. For me, I think I'd come out ahead in the long run versus, say spending $960 over two years (contracts start at $40 a month, and you still have to pay $100 up front after rebates).
"The MiFi is remarkable for its tiny size, its sleek good looks, its 30-foot range (it easily filled a large airport gate area with four-bar signal) — and the fact that it’s cordless and rechargeable," Pogue writes. "How is this amazing? Let us count the ways."
Sweet.
Goodwill's store at 5301 Samet Drive at Wendover Crossing in High Point is opening a cafe-style coffee shop Friday.
During Friday's grand opening, customers who donate to Goodwill get a $1 off coupon toward their purchase at Edgar's Coffee.
Edgar’s Coffee will also serve smoothies and other beverages.
Average prices will range from a 12-ounce cup of coffee for a buck to a 20-ounce smoothie for $3.75.
The coffee shop is a first for Goodwill Industries of Central North Carolina. It will be operated by Goodwill staff.
The shop is named after Edgar J. Helms, who founded Goodwill in Boston more than 100 years ago.
A reminder that I'm looking for your best advice on saving some bucks. If I pick yours as the best tidbit, you'll get a free 2008 Microsoft Office home and student edition software for the Mac (worth $149.95).
Examples? Here's something we like to do: Take vacations in the off-season, say April or early May or September. Lodging is usually half-off and you don't have to fight the crowds. Plus, the weather's usually still warm.
To enter, subscribe to my free weekly e-mail newsletter, Bargain Bytes, by signing up here.
Then send me an e-mail confirming you signed up for Bargain Bytes and include your money-saving suggestion. Include your full name, where you're from and a way I can reach you.
Deadline is Tuesday.
The winner will be announced in this Friday's Savvy Shopper.
Maybe take your mom for some post-Mother's Day shopping next weekend to Simply Meg's at The Shops at Friendly Center in Greensboro.
Here's why: As mentioned in my Savvy Shopper column, designer brand names such as Diane Von Furstenberg, Hudson Jeans and Tibi will be 40 percent off next weekend as part of the fashion store's effort to promote its name change.
Simply Meg's used to be a Scout and Molly's store, which also has a location in Raleigh.
But Meg Strader and her husband, Challey, decided to develop their own brand name.
The 40-percent discount is good toward clothes, shoes, handbags, accessories and undergarments. The sale is May 15-17.
The store is off West Friendly Avenue near restaurant P.F. Chang's.
As I mentioned in my Savvy Shopper column and here, the latest issue of Consumer Reports magazine features tips from staff members and readers on saving some dough.
Any advice you'd like to share?
As an extra incentive, if I pick yours as the best tidbit, you'll get a free 2008 Microsoft Office home and student edition software for the Mac that's worth $149.95. (Now through June 30, shoppers buying new Macs can save up to half off Office 2008.)
The software includes a program that lets brides-to-be in tough times pull together their own do-it-yourself weddings. Cheaper weddings, by the way, are a trend of late.
Here's what you need to do: Subscribe to my free weekly e-mail newsletter, Bargain Bytes, by signing up here.
Then send me an e-mail confirming you signed up for Bargain Bytes and include your money-saving suggestion. Include your full name, where you're from and a way I can reach you.
Deadline is Tuesday.
The winner will be announced in next week's Savvy Shopper, which runs Fridays in the Life section of the News & Record.
Don't have a Mac or don't need the software? You should still consider signing up for Bargain Bytes because it highlights some of the best deals out there.
It will be sent to your inbox on Wednesdays.
You don't need to burn a hole in your wallet on a decent gas grill, so says Consumer Reports in its latest issue (online version of story available to subscribers only).
"Value-priced grills can deliver performance that matches or beats that of pricier models," according to the June issue of Consumer Reports, which tested 40 models.
As examples, the magazine mentions the Fiesta Blue Ember and the Char-Broil Red, each $450, as surpassing the $1,400 Napoleon Prestige II grill.
The magazine tested grills ranging in price from $100 to $3,200.
It also offers tips on selecting a grill including knowing what size you need. You also need to know that a higher BTU (British thermal units per hour) rating doesn't necessarily mean faster heating or higher grilling temperatures.
The magazine also rates gas grills in medium, large, small and portable categories and whether they have features such as a side burner, stainless steel grates, evenness and infared burners.
Bottom line?
"You don't have to sacrifice performance or features when you buy a value-priced grill," the magazine says.
The June issue of Consumer Reports magazine features tips from staff and readers on saving some dough. (Link to story available to subscribers only.)
Advice includes using newspapers instead of paper towels to clean exterior windows and glass doors.
Maybe my employer should incorporate that tip as part of a new slogan: "Cleaning house with the News & Record."
But seriously ladies and germs...
Mailing your Mother's Day cards late is bad enough, so here's some extra incentive not to procrastinate: it could cost you a little more in the wallet.
That's because beginning Monday, stamps increase by 2 cents 44 cents. (Mother's Day is Sunday.)
You also may want to stock up on those Forever stamps, which means you've locked them in at the current price.
Do something different for your mom on Mother's Day this year: treat her to a traditional English afternoon of tea on fine china with complimentary fruit and scones at Replacements Ltd. in Greensboro.
The free event will be held from 2 to 5 Sunday.
Replacements will be accepting donations to benefit the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, although not required.
Replacements carries the world's largest selection of old and new china, crystal, silver and collectibles.
My latest Savvy Shopper column, which now runs on Fridays, mentions the new Uptown Cheapskate resale store in Greensboro that sells big, brand-name clothes at a small price.
Although the clothes and accessories are mostly used, Steve Weaver, husband of Uptown Cheapskate owner Christine Weaver, doesn't think you'll notice the difference.
The store is at 2130-E New Garden Road near Battleground Avenue across from the Brassfield Shopping Center.
Uptown Cheapskate opens in early June. But it will buy your stuff right now. .
Stop by from 1 to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and from 1 to 6 p.m. Sunday. Call 617-7000 for more information.
Beth Sartore describes how you can create an upscale, casual look on a budget by taking advantage of thrift stores and yard sales in her latest Style Cents column that runs Sunday.
Beth is a local fashion designer and wardrobe consultant whose column appears the first Sunday of each month in the Life section of the News & Record.
SmartMoney sizes up the best deals on digital music amid recent price hikes for popular songs and albums by online music stores including Apple, Amazon and Walmart.
Smith Beautiful Living at the Village at North Elm in Greensboro is having a sidewalk art show Friday through Sunday with 30 percent off merchandise.
The event features hundreds of original oil paintings in all shapes and sizes by artists from around the world.
Saw a commercial for Windsor Jewelers in Winston-Salem that mentions the store will refund the cost of your engagement ring up to $5,000 if it rains on your wedding day.
Of course this will all but ensure there won't be a cloud in the sky, so be sure to wash your car that morning.
Here's the deal: Visit Windsor Jewelers, buy a diamond engagement ring and fill out a certificate.
If it rains and the National Weather Service measures one inch or more between midnight and midnight at Piedmont Triad International Airport, you get a refund for the cost of the engagement ring up to $5,000.
My Savvy Shopper column, starting this week, will be published Fridays in the Life section of the News & Record instead of the local section on Sundays.
The column's mission won't change though. It's still about finding bargains with an eye on the Triad and tips on saving some bucks in tough economic times.
Thanks to all of you, by the way, who have passed along some good tips for the column. Keep 'em coming.
Got something you'd like to share? Spread the word here or send me an e-mail.
If you haven't already, also be sure to sign up for my Bargain Bytes e-mail newsletter, which highlights some of the best deals out there.
Plus news and columns about looking for deals and savings. The free newsletter will be sent to your inbox every Wednesday.
Sign up here.
The Junior League Rummage Sale, the nonprofit's larguest annual fundraiser, continues today at the Joel Coliseum Annex in Winston-Salem.
They're having a half-price sale today from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30. Tickets are $3.
A big bag sale will be held from 1 to 2:30 p.m. That's where you pay $1 to get in, then buy a large bag for $5 that you can fill.
Speaking of books, the Greensboro Public Library's semi-annual used book sale will be May 2.
It will be held from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Central Library at 219 N. Church St.
Readers will find books, books on tape and CD, music CDs and DVDs.
Most hardbacks are $2 and most paperbacks are 50 cents.
All items for sale are community donations. Proceeds from the sale go to the Friends of the Greensboro Public Library.
Giant Book Sale has moved into Circuit City's old digs on West Wendover Avenue in Greensboro, former Savvy Shopper columnist and News & Record biz reporter Amy Joyner writes in her blog, Goo Goo Buy Buy.
The store specializes in overstock and remaindered books at 50 percent to 80 percent off the original list price.
Amy says Giant Book Sale's Greensboro store is having a grand opening special: hardbacks are $4 and paperbacks are $2.
Belk is having a charity sale May 2 that will feature discounts of up to 50 percent in return for a $5 donation.
Tickets to the event are available in stores Friday.
Proceeds will benefit local charities, schools and nonprofits throughout the company’s 16-state market including North Carolina.
During the event, held from 6 to 10 a.m., participants get discounts from 20 to 50 percent on items excluding cosmetics and fragrances.
Customers also receive $5 off their first purchase of $5 or more. Belk cardholders get double points for card purchases.
Customers can also register to win one of three $1,000 Belk shopping sprees. Participating charities and schools will also be registered for a chance to win a $1,000 donation (three will be awarded).
If you're trying to save some bucks on your favorite gadgets, four Web sites stand out, according to SmartMoney.com:
Continuously posts updates. Users can sort deals by the time they were posted, by category or by how often visitors are checking them out.
The DealWatch feature also tracks prices in popular gadget categories and predicts future sales.
CNET’s Shopper.com
Access to extensive reviews, latest sales and coupons, price-comparison feature.
Up-to-the-minute price comparisons, discounts other users have found. Vote for favorites to push them higher in the listings. Set price alerts to be notified when stores lower prices.
It posts just one item per day, but prices are typically the best.
I've got links to these Web sites, by the way, under "Links of Interest" section of this blog.
A consignment furniture store in Burlington is having a yard sale from 7 a.m. to noon Saturday.
This follows a large amount of goods consignors asked Bella's House to donate, owner Robin Showerman says.
Proceeds will benefit the Alamance County Boys and Girls Club.
You can also make a donation Monday and Thursday from 4 to 6 p.m.
The Salvation Army will also be collecting larger donated items Friday from 10 to 4.
The store is at 236 E. Front St. in downtown Burlington. Store number is 229-3699.
AAA Carolinas is offering $1 for each car or boat battery brought in to a AAA Car Care Center in the Carolinas this week. It coincides with Earth Week.
Nationwide, AAA has collected more than 75,000 batteries during Earth Week since 2001. Residents of the Carolinas have recycled more than 4,700 batteries.
Looks like I just made $2: I've got two old trolling motor batteries collecting dust, so now I know what to do with them.
Good times.
That's the great thing about getting a kayak, by the way. No batteries required.
Participate in Buff Natural Nail Bar's Red Cross blood drive in Greensboro and get a free manicure gift card for Mother's Day.
The event will be held Saturday, May 9, from 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Donors also get $5 off a manicure.
Buff Natural Nail Bar is at The Village at North Elm at 305-D Pisgah Church Road.
Call 288-6096 to sign up.
Update: Details here (.pdf).
A charity auction for the Salvation Army Boys & Girls Clubs of Greensboro that's set for tomorrow night will include some signed basketballs that have fetched $5,000 in years past.
Spending $5,000 on an autographed basketball in these tough economic times seems a bit much? Not to worry: there will be plenty of other stuff, too.
The auction will include "fine jewelry, fine dining, medical services, sporting goods, and other items bargain shoppers would want to snap up at low prices," Salvation Army spokesman Ivan Cutler told me in an e-mail.
The auction will be held Thursday at the Koury Convention Center beginning at 6 p.m.
Anyone seeking to preview the items up for auction is asked to call Amos Quick at 235-0345.
It's one of those things you rarely, if ever experience: buying something at the store that's less than the advertised sale price.
I'm referring to a Samsung 42-inch plasma 720 p that I've had my eye on at Best Buy that's on sale for $799.
It was recommended by a store employee, who, in another one of those rarely seen occurrences, talked me out of buying a more expensive product.
Inside a Best Buy store in Greensboro, there was a $699 sales tag below the display model, or $100 below the sales price listed in the circular and online. That can't be right, I assumed. Maybe the tags had been accidentally switched with another TV. Another customer, holding a Best Buy circular that says it's $799, also expressed bewilderment.
Could the $699 possibly be right? Could there be a mistake in an ad that doesn't mean, sorry folks, there was a typo, it's actually more expensive?
Rest assured, the sales guy said, it's $699.
Sold.
Appliance and electronics retailer hhgregg is giving $50 off purchases of $299 or more to customers who have Circuit City credit cards or gift cards of any value.
Promotion ends May 31.
Customers can only receive one discount per transaction in stores. The discount will not be available at hhgregg's Web site.
Circuit City filed for bankruptcy last year and has liquidated all of its stores.
The annual Hospice League flea market, a mecca for bargain hunters, has been extended by two weekends this year.
The 20th annual event begins June 12 and ends June 20.
It's described by organizers as "the largest charitible flea market in the southeast."
It will be held inside the Nike II complex, a 100,000-square-foot building at the former Western Electric complex at 204 N. Graham-Hopedale Road in Burlington.
It's sponsored by the Hospice League of Alamance-Caswell.
My Savvy Shopper column today talks about snagging some amazing deals on art and antiques if - and that's the key word - you've got the moola to spare.
Example? Jules Too!, a consignment antique shop in downtown Greensboro, is selling a 49-piece Royal Copenhagen china set for the rock-bottom price of $995.
No, that's not exactly chump change. But Gary Brame, who owns Jules Too! with his wife, Agnes Preston-Brame, tells me that set would normally sell for $2,500-$3,000.
“It’s a buyer’s market,” he says. “You have the ability to come in here and buy things that a year-and-a-half ago you probably would have paid twice as much for.”
A growing number of retailers are rewarding customer loyalty by offering discounts in the form of frequent-shopper cards.
Consumer Reports' ShopSmart magazine in its May issue describes 10 frequent-shopper programs that can save you money:
* Borders
For every $150 you spend, you get $5 toward another purchase within a month. You also get special discounts and offers. Sign up at borders.com
* CVS Pharmacy
Get a 2 percent rebate on in-store and online purchases. Also get a $1 “extra buck” for every two prescriptions filled. Discounts on items featured in weekly circulars. Sign up at cvs.com.
* Office Depot
Get a 10 percent discount on ink, toner, paper, design, print, and shipping services. Also get 1 percent back on all other items. Rebate is redeemable for future purchases. Sign up at myworkliferewards.com.
* Petco
One free bag of pet food for every 10 bags of natural or premium food you buy within a 12-month period. One free grooming, bath, or wash for every eight you buy within a 12-month period. Sign up at your local store.
* PetSmart
Get coupons; monthly online offers; discounts on some in-store items. Sign up at petsmart.com.
* Regal Cinemas
Get one point for every dollar spent on tickets and extra credit for concessions. Redeem 50 points for a small popcorn or 150 points for one free admission. Sign up at regmovies.com.
* Staples
Get 10 percent back on ink, toner, paper, and copy and print services. Rebate is redeemable for future purchases. Sign up at staples.com.
* Toys “R” Us
Get a $5 gift certificate for every $150 spent during select promotional periods, plus discounts on diapers and other items. Sign up at toysrus.com.
* Walgreens
Rebates on featured items; you must save receipts and submit them by mail or online.
How To Sign Up: Go to walgreens.com.
* AMC Theatres
Earn two points for every movie ticket you buy. Redeem 10 points for a small popcorn or 30 points for a free movie ticket. Sign up at moviewatcher.com.
Consumer Reports' May issue rates lawn mowers that give you the best bang for your buck. (Link to story online available to subscribers only.)
The magazine tested more than 80 models in determining the most and least reliable models.
Five mowers were called Consumer Reports "best buys.
They include the new Toro Recycler 20333 ($420) and the Craftsman 37435 self-propelled models.
The magazine also compared tractor models if you have to mow half an acre or more. Three tractors from Craftsman, Cub Cadet and John Deere were considered best buys.
Those deemed best buys combined even cutting with fewer visible clippings when mulching and side-discharging.
The top mowers also bagged more efficiently and were easier to use.
Still plenty of time until Mother's Day (May 10) but something you might want to consider: Consumer Reports compared widely sold chocolates that cost less than about $2 per ounce in its May issue (Story online available to subscribers only).
Two brands satisfied the sweet tooth while taking it easy on your wallet: Lindt Swiss Tradition De Luxe Collection ($1.98 a ounce) and Ferrero Collection Prestige Fine Assorted Confections ($1.02 an ounce).
"The Lindt Swiss Tradition and Ferrero chocolates should please even a finicky mom," according to the magazine.
You're mom will also be proud that you didn't blow a wad of cash on chocolate - that you actually listened to her when she taught you to be frugal, especially in tough economic times.
Go ahead. Give yourself a hand.
The day when you no longer have to clip coupons or print them off the Internet may be sooner than you think.
That is no more evident than a pretty cool new coupon app for the iPhone just created by FreeShipping.org.
Coupon Sherpa, which also works on the iPod Touch, let's you instantly access coupons while you're in the store.
You simply hand over your iPhone or iPod Touch to the cashier, who will scan the iPhone to redeem the coupon if the store has an optical scanner (a growing number of stores are using these). Or the cashier will simply type in the bar code.
The app is $1.99. It's available at the iPhone App Store.
Participating retailers (more than 100 so far) include Finish Line, Zales Jewelers, Coldwater Creek, Gordon’s Jewelers, CompUSA, Jackson-Hewitt and Tiger Direct.
Coupon categories include men’s and women’s clothing, electronics, restaurants, pet supplies, sporting goods, and local services.
So has anyone tried this? Curious what you think.
Here's a list of what we'd like to see open in the Triad and what we'd like to see expand here. What are we missing? Let me know here.
McCall's BBQ & Seafood Restaurant
Smithfield's Chicken 'N Bar-B-Q
Souplantation & Sweet Tomatoes
What we want to see more of in the Triad:
Costco ranked highest overall in shopping satisfaction and was among the top choices for apparel, according to a Consumer Reports reader survey comparing nine big retailers.
Besides Costco, stores included in the survey were Kohl's, Target, JCPenney, Sears, Sam's Club, Macy's, Walmart and Kmart.
The results of the survey appear in the magazine's May issue.
Beth Sartore, a local fashion designer and wardrobe consultant, offers tips on looking professional and polished on a budget for that important job interview.
It's the topic of her latest Style Cents feature, which runs the first Sunday of each month in the Life section of the News & Record.
Here's the link (.pdf)
Also click here to listen to Beth discuss how you can land the best fashion bargains.
FreeShipping.org has created a new blog featuring tips on living the frugal life.
Go Frugal includes dozens tidbits from fellow frugal bloggers and posts from FreeShipping.org's staff.
Topics include beauty secrets on a budget that you'll find in your kitchen, such as using honey and brown sugar for a facial scrub. Also tips on creating frugal wedding centerpieces and spring break on a budget.
A reader sent an e-mail about a flea market in Thomasville per a co-worker's request to let her know about the best thrift stores and consignment shops in town.
Gail Nelson of High Point says you need to check out the Hometown Flea Market near the Thomasville Medical Center.
"It is one of the cleanest flea markets I have seen," Gail wrote to Kenwyn. "It also has the friendliest people. You can find about anything here: Flower arrangements, cemetery arrangements, jewelry, linens, furniture, plants, NASCAR memorabilia, glassware, Home Interior, pictures, antiques, household items, pottery, dolls, toys, books, cassettes, cd’s, videos, baby items, alterations and custom window coverings, homemade cookies, etc. and many, many more items."
Any other favorites out there? Let Kenwyn know.
News & Record co-worker Kenwyn Caranna wanted me to ask you about the best thrift or consignment shops to hunt for bargains in the Triad and why.
This will be for something that will run in the newspaper soon.
Also, any tips for shopping at these types of stores?
Send her an e-mail at kcaranna@news-record.com.
Here's the list. I'll keep updating it.
So we can scratch Apple Store off the list. But are there other stores and restaurants you'd like to see come to the Triad?
Or, if they're already here, you'd like to see another one open (there's one in Winston-Salem but you want one in Greensboro or vice versa, or maybe more than one of the same restaurant or store in your city.
Me? I would love to have a Dave and Busters here. As my co-worker Louis Bekoe describes it, it's basically an adult version of Chuck E. Cheese.
This is simply what you'd like to see here, not whether it's going to happen anytime soon, given the economy ain't doing so hot these days.
But it doesn't hurt to ask, right? Ya never know which store and restaurant owners read this blog.
Oh, and while you've got their attention, tell them why it's a money-making, win-win proposition to open shop here.
I'm planning on mentioning what you all think in Sunday's Savvy Shopper column.
Jill Cataldo, a coupon workshop instructor dubbed "coupon queen" who has been featured in newspapers and on TV shows, offers some good, money-saving tips including why you need to hang onto your Sunday newspaper coupons.
She writes: "One of the most important reasons to hold on to all of your coupon inserts is this: rarely do the coupons that we receive on Sunday line up with the best sales in the same week. Their real value comes as they get closer to their expiration dates."
More info. about Jill at her blog.
A High Point-based business is offering free dry cleaning for those looking for jobs.
For men, A Cleaner World will clean a suit or blazer and slacks, plus two dress shirts per week.
For women, the store will clean a suit and two shirts or blouses or two regular dresses per week.
Customers are asked to provide a statement from the Employment Security Commission showing they are jobless.
The offer is good until Aug. 31.
In the Triad area, Cleaner World has stores in High Point, Greensboro, Kernersville, Reidsville, Eden, Winston-Salem, Thomasville and Burlington.
A recent survey reveals 75 percent of adults are buying used stuff to save money.
"It is the height of chic," Constance White, eBay style director, told McClatchy Newspapers. "A lot of stylish people are wearing ... used clothes now."
Reader tip: Kmart is doubling coupons up to $2 through Saturday. Limit 75 coupons per visit.
"It's awesome," Kelly Buck wrote to me in an e-mail. "I saved a ton this morning."
The company behind the popular book exchange Web site PaperBackSwap.com also has clubs that let you swap DVDs and CDs.
PaperBackSwap.com, SwapaDVD.com and SwapaCD.com allow members to exchange books, movies and music through the mail.
For every book, CD or DVD that you mail out, you get another one mailed to you for free. You pay the postage to ship it but that's it. Membership is also free.
There's lots of choices, too. PaperBackSwap.com boasts of having more than 3 million books to choose from, making it the largest book club in the U.S.
You can also choose from more than 195,000 CDs at SwapaCD.com and 95,000 DVDs at SwapaDVD.com.
As mentioned in the latest issue of Men's Health magazine, Zilok lets you rent stuff online including cameras and computers from neighbors if you're strapped for cash.
You can also rent your own stuff to recoup costs.
If there's a drawback, it's the lack of inventory in some areas. (I tried to search, for example, for a lawnmower to rent in Greensboro but none available).
Did spot a push lawnmower for rent for $9 a day in Cary.
Not a brand new concept though, as noted by the New York Times in a February 2008 blog post.
The idea has been kicked around since 2000.
Anyone tried this? What did you think?
Goodwill Industries of Central North Carolina and the Little Black Dress store in Greensboro are sponsoring a donation drive to collect 300 formal dresses for the prom.
Fifteen Goodwill stores and the Little Black Dress store will be accepting donations of gently used formal dresses until March 27.
For each dress you donate, you will get a coupon for 15 percent off your next purchase at Little Black Dress.
The donated dresses will go on sale for $25 or less beginning on March 27.
Students can then shop for them at the Goodwill stores at 3921 Battleground Ave. in Greensboro or 5301 Samet Drive in High Point.
Save $20 in tax preparation services while helping a nonprofit collect shoes for the needy.
Here's how it works: Liberty Tax Service customers including those at its Randleman Road location in Greensboro can send an e-mail to Soles4Souls at Libtax@giveshoes.org to have a printable coupon emailed.
Liberty Tax will donate $20 to Soles4Souls for each redeemed coupon.
Liberty Tax is also hosting shoe drives during the tax season.
Consumer Reports' ShopSmart magazine has 16 tips for nabbing the best shopping deals on the Web and how to avoid rip-offs in its May issue.
Highlights regarding getting the best deals:
* Start with price-comparison sites including PriceGrabber.com, Shopping.com and Google.com/products.
* Comb through product and user reviews to zero in on the best buys. Check out Buzzillions.com and Epinions.com.
* Use promotional codes. Find them at sites including RetailMeNot.com or Google the name of the shopping site with the words “coupon code” or “promotion code.”
Also go to Freeshipping.org for free shipping coupons.
* Sign up for e-mail alerts or RSS feeds.
* Use Web sites that round up sales such as iStorez.com.
* Sites including PriceProtectr.com, DealAlerter.com, and PriceSpider.com keep track prices on thousands of items and will e-mail price alerts.
Avoid getting cheated:
* Go to the Better Business Bureau's Web site if you're not familiar with the retailer site. Click “USA site,” “Check out a business or charity,” and then “Phone, URL, Email” for a Web site’s grade.
* Try an alternate payment method. If you use PayPal, link it to your credit card, not your checking account. Or, elect to receive your bill in the mail or online with BillMeLater.
* Watch for red flags. Symbols at the bottom of a Web page, such as Hacker Safe (now McAfee Secure), VeriSign Secured and TRUSTe, can help you determine if a site is the real deal. But be warned: Those seals can be fraudulently copied and pasted onto a page.
Also watch out for sites that have typos, misspellings, or a URL that ends in .CN, .RO, .RU, or some other odd suffix, only accepts checks or has negative seller reviews.
* Many credit cards now allow you to get a number for onetime use online, to protect your real card number. Call your card’s customer service to find out.
An online retail service called WujWuj has joined the list of companies that have created a "group buy" program.
That means the price of an item drops as more people commit to purchasing it.
WujWuj first launched with a focus on helping consumers pool money to buy gifts for friends and family.
"That never really took off, so the service was shut down and is now being reborn with new focus on so-called 'group buys,' " according to TechCrunch.
"Will this system make online group buys more popular and viral? [CEO Monti] Majthoub is cautiously optimistic," according to TechCrunch. "He points out that several other companies (such as previously reviewed eSwarm) have tried to improve the group buy process and failed. But he also believes WujWuj may have finally devised a system that’s so simple for both retailers and consumers that it might actually work."
Have you tried it or something similar? What do you think?
Understanding retailers' often subliminal messages is one way to sift through the barrage of sales, according to a Daily Press article.
The article outlines some tricks of the trade, including creating the right smells, lighting and displays.
Some retailers actually spray the scent of freshly cut grass in the air at the home and garden store.
The lighting over the coffee aisle in the grocery store is also changed to make customers feel like they are in a Starbucks coffeehouse.
Brands like Pepperidge Farm will use real maple wood displays and words like "fresh" to convince shoppers they're buying the best quality in that category.
The article includes advice on searching for the best deal, such as looking at the highest or lowest grocery store shelves for cheaper prices.
A new Web-based site that will let you buy or sell used college books promises to save you some big bucks in tough economic times, News & Record Staff Writer Joe Killian writes.
Mike Smith was inspired to create Textbook Freeway, which launches March 16 at http://textbookfreeway.com, after he and his wife Marti had just spent more than $500 in books for their daughter Chelsea's third semester as an economics major at UNC-CH.
"My wife said she didn't see why the kids couldn't network better, to buy and sell books from each other," Smith told Joe. "And as I listened to her I thought, 'What they really need is a Web site.' "
Here's how it works: Students can register at the site and list any textbook they have to sell. Students then meet offline for the sale, the way they would if they were making a purchase via any other Web commerce or auction site. All books, regardless of cover price, will go for $50 plus a $5.95 service charge.
"The goal is that if you sell any one book and buy any one book on the site, it's one price and you'll break even," Smith said. "So if you sell five books and buy five books, you'll just pay the $5.95 fees. You'll pay $29.75 for a semester's worth of books."
Old Navy's new weekly coupon site includes a 15 percent off printable coupon good toward all your purchases.
I took advantage of that and bought three polo shirts, which were also on sale for $10 each (regular $15). So I only paid $25.50 for three shirts versus $45 at regular price.
(Each coupon can only be used once.)
As mentioned on DealsAhoyOnline's Twitter feed, Kiplinger advice column lists 10 cheaper alternatives regarding everyday purchases such as snacks, bottled water, coffee, music and movies.
Circuit City, as you may know by now, is closing for good Sunday.
Here's a sampling of some stuff I saw for sale today at the Greensboro store off Wendover Avenue:
Examples:
* 50-inch Panasonic 1080p plasma, model pz80u, for $1,000, regular $2,000.
Elsewhere: $1,245 to $2,014
Verdict: Not too shabby, although this was a display model.
* 46-inch Panasonic plasma, model 46z85u for $949, regular $1,899.
Elsewhere: $986-$1,900.
Verdict: Not bad, although this was also a display model.
* Season 4 of Rescue Me for $8, or 80 percent off the regular price of $39.99.
Elsewhere: $37.99 at Amazon.com.
Verdict: Excellent deal. Of course that's in the eye of the beholder. Me? I love the show, so think that's a great bargain. But a co-worker I just mentioned it to simply shrugged. Ya can't please everyone.
* Season 1 of Damages for $8, or 80 percent off the regular price of $39.99.
Elsewhere: $35.99 at Amazon.com
Verdict: A sweet deal for fans of the show.
* Hewlett-Packard OfficeJet 6310 all-in-one Inkjet printer for $74.99, 50 percent off the regular price of $149.99.
Elsewhere: $71-$161
Verdict: Pretty good. Hard to find a better price elsewhere.
* Wii Fit yoga mat for $5.40, 70 percent off the regular price of $54.40
Elsewhere: $26.49 at Amazon.com
Verdict: Excellent.
Trade in your pair of designer jeans for another pair at Main & Taylor in Greensboro or receive $20 in Main and Taylor Bucks during March.
Rick Broida at CNET's The Cheapskate blog highlights five bargains for under $10:
* Amazon's MP3 store has U2's new album, "No Line on the Horizon," for $3.99.
* Buy.com has a Targus Stow-N-Go Wireless Optical Mouse for $9.99 shipped.
* iTunes has the unabridged audiobook version of Cormac McCarthy's post-apocalyptic "The Road" for just $4.95. Great book, by the way. This link takes you directly to the iTunes store.
* Meritline has a two-pack of 6-foot HDMI cables for $6.99 shipped. That is a sweet deal. The prices some retailers charge for HDMI cables are ridiculous.
* Newegg has a SanDisk 4GB microSDHC card for $8.49 shipped.
Visit Redbox's blog redblog on Wednesdays in March for a free movie code to use that day.
Redbox, which came in second in a recent Consumer Reports survey about video rental services, is also continuing a promotion where you can sign up for text messages for a free movie rental on Mondays.
The country's largest kiosk video rental company normally charges $1 a night.
Get a 20-percent discount on merchandise at Stein Mart, which has three stores in the Triad, if you donate clean, gently used garments in good condition Thursday through Saturday.
Stein Mart has partnered with the Salvation Army for the second consecutive year for the national Give & Receive event.
For each item donated, customers get a coupon for 20 percent off any item they can use Thursday through Saturday. Limit four coupons per customer, while supplies last. Customers can donate as many items as they like.
In the Triad, Stein Mart stores are located in Greensboro, High Point, and Winston-Salem.
The donated apparel will help replenish Salvation Army's thrift and family stores, many of which have reported up to a 20 percent decrease in donations during the past year due to the economy, although Greensboro has not seen the same decline as other areas.
I couldn't believe my wife was able to buy a decent-quality snow shovel at Harris Teeter this morning for only $4.49 - regular $17.99, although there were only two left. One retailer is even selling the same model for $24.99.
Not that I'm complaining, but I guess Harris Teeter (maybe others?) prematurely marked them down, not expecting they'd be needed in March. But Mother Nature loves to throw those curve balls from time to time.
Gander Mountain, which has a store near Four Seasons Towne Centre in Greensboro, is having a big sale on fishing-related accessories including rods, reels and clothes through March 22.
It's also having a Saturday morning only sale tomorrow from 8 to noon on certain items. Examples: 25 percent off all Rapala lures, Gander men's and women's hoodies are $9.99 (regular $29.99), Gander rod and reel combo for $49.99 (regular $69.99).
More shoppers are getting their coupons online or having discounts sent to their smart phones and rewards cards, the Wall Street Journal reports.
Online coupons account for only 1 percent of all coupons offered nationwide, according to the article. But their use is rapidly growing. Redemptions jumped 140 percent in 2008.
In the Triad, Lowes Foods recently created an online program that lets you download money-saving offers to your rewards card.
If you hear of others, pass 'em along.
Five things you should never buy new are iPods, GPS units, books, toys and clothes, Mandy Walker from Consumer Reports' Shop Smart magazine said on the Today Show this morning.
You can buy refurbished iPods and GPS units from retailers including Crutchfield and Amazon.com at much lower prices and in good as new condition, Walker said.
That's because a survey found most returned items, which are then re-sold as refurbished, simply didn't meet buyers' expectations but work fine.
"Usually because they can't figure it out within the first 20 minutes," Walker said.
You can also return refurbished products, although policies vary. Crutchfield and Amazon.com let you return them within 30 days while Apple has 14-day return policy. Apple also applies a 10 percent re-stocking fee.
"You're saving a ton of money," she said.
How much? Regarding refurbished iPods, you can save 21 percent.
Or you can save 77 percent if you buy a refurbished Magellan Maestro 3140 portable GPS at Warehousedeals.com, although it's currently out of stock.
Concerning books, Walker mentioned you can save, for example, 33 percent buying James Patterson's "Cross Country" at retailers such as Books-A-Million.
Wondering how quickly your kid will get tired of that new toy? Why not rent them instead?
Become a member at BabyPlays, where you can keep toys for 30 or 60 days or longer, depending upon the plan you choose.
You can also save some money buying used clothes at thrift stores. Search for thrift stores by ZIP code at the National Association of Resale & Thrift Shops' Web site.
Show up in your pajamas at Bruster’s Real Ice Cream at one of its High Point locations March 7 to get a free, single-scoop waffle cone.
Orders at the ice cream parlor at 3860 John Gordon Lane have to be placed at the walk-up window. Drive-thru orders will not qualify.
Its winter hours are noon to 9 p.m.
For more information, call the store at 882-6780.
A new store that lets you buy used DVD and Blu-ray movies or trade yours in for credit recently opened in Greensboro.
Eighty percent of the more than 1,200 used movie titles at Movie Go-round at 2821 Battleground Ave. are $5 each. Owner Doug Melton is currently holding a grand opening special: 3 for $12.
Customers can also munch on a free bag of popcorn while browsing.
A co-worker spotted a sign at Edward McKay Used Books in Greensboro announcing $5 store credit if you buy $25 worth of stuff.
Deal good through Sunday.
Netflix is the best way to get an evening's video entertainment, according to a Consumer Reports survey of the magazine's online subscribers (link to online story requires a subscription).
Netflix offers three service options ranging from $14 to $5 a month. The $14 option lets you rent two DVDs at a time with no monthly limit. You also get unlimited streaming.
The $5 option is a one-disc-at-a-time plan, limit 2 per month, and up to two hours of streaming content.
If you own an Xbox 360, members of Microsoft's Live Gold service ($50 a year) can tap into Netflix's library by downloading its video streaming application. That's been a hit so far: Microsoft and Netflix said 1 million Xbox Live members have downloaded the Netflix application and watched 1.5 billion minutes of movies and TV shows.
If you're also a member of Netflix's service, prices are around $9 per month to watch unlimited streaming.
Redbox, the largest kiosk video rental company, came in second in the survey, although as noted by Consumer Reports, variety and quality of choices is somewhat lacking. But rentals are only a buck.
Redbox is currently having a promotion where you can sign up for text messages for a free movie rental on Mondays.
Maybe I shouldn't have been surprised that Denny's wasn't surprised by the humongous turnout regarding its nationwide Grand Slam breakfast giveaway Tuesday.
But in previous heavily promoted bargain bonanzas, event organizers always seemed to be caught off guard by the public's appetite for a deal. Or, in one case, how the crowd might behave after taking advantage of 10-cent beer night.
On Tuesday, Denny's ended its big giveaway as anticipated, having served up 2 million free Grand Slams, according to the Associated Press.
Anticipated?
"It was almost like a fair atmosphere," Pennsylvanian Chris Oakley told the AP after waiting in a line of more than 50 people for about 20 minutes before getting a counter seat.
Contrast that atmosphere with a furniture giveaway event held in Kings Mountain west of Charlotte in May.
Fights and fender-benders forced Kings Mountain officials to shut it down only one hour after it started.
"It kind of overwhelmed us," Mayor Rick Murphrey told the Charlotte Observer at the time. "We were humbled by the turnout."
Also in May, Papa John's had to eat a little humble pizza pie regarding its 23-cent pizza deal that was held in Ohio. It resulted in a higher-than-expected turnout made worse by poor planning.
"But now I'm not even hungry," Ohio customer Kimberly Hall said. "I'm mad. They should have organized this better."
"We're certainly a bit surprised about how darn popular this is," said Tim North, vice president of the company's northeast division.
Then there was an event that ranks, at least in my book, as the biggest bargain disaster of all time. The event that will in live bargain infamy occurred June 4, 1974.
"On June 4, 1974, the woeful Cleveland Indians – coming off a season marking their lowest attendance since World War II – held the first of what was to be a series of 10-Cent Beer Nights," the San Diego Tribune recalls.
Fans were streaking all over the field. Players were getting showered with hotdogs. Texas first basemen Mike Hargrove almost got hit in the head by a jug of wine. One of the umpires was even struck in head by a flying chair.
Ouch.
Update: Co-worker John Newsom forwarded me a 2005 story regarding chaos erupting at "Richmond International Raceway as people stampeded through the gates in a rush to buy used iBook laptops for $50 each."
Mothers clutched their children for protection, people screamed as they were knocked to the ground, a stroller was demolished, cars inched through the crowd.
"I can't believe people are so barbaric," Grace Wang, a rising senior at Henrico County's Godwin High School, told the Richmond Times Dispatch.
As mentioned at MomsWhoSave, free shipping on orders of more than $50 at Overstock.com through this link.
Good through Saturday. Click here see all of Overstock's sale, clearance and free shipping deals.
