Coupon Savings Books -- see them in a new light!

I want to share with my readers today about a savvy shopping choice you may be overlooking. Coupon books.


I know, I can feel your pain. But please don't stop reading! You're going to want to hear this.

Children used to come to the door selling them, and to help them raise money, we always tried to buy the coupon books, cookie dough, or candles. We’d flip through our book, pull out a couple of coupons, then put it in a drawer, and forget about it until the coupons had all expired. Except for the fundraising part, it was wasted money.

But when my daughter sold the books to raise money for our school, I discovered I had it all wrong. This time I was determined not to “waste” the coupons, so I put the book in my purse. The next time we needed lunch on the go, I flipped to the book's fast food section. Right there, buy one-get one free at Chick-fil-a! The book “paid me” for 1/4 of its purchase price with that first coupon.

The following Sunday afternoon, she wanted to go out to lunch. Neither of us really knew where we wanted to go, so I flipped through the book. Hmmm … lunch special at a Mexican restaurant we’d never tried, buy 1-get 1 free. Trying a new place sounded like fun, so off we went. I would probably never have gone there if I hadn’t had that coupon, but I must say it became my all-time favorite Mexican restaurant! (Cazadores in Pensacola -- the flautas are to DIE for!) And I'd just saved enough to pay for the book. We were on a roll!

Working our way through the coupon book, we discovered MANY new places with fantastic food, and got to try them at half price. We had new favorite places to go, and the one or two that didn’t measure up … well, at least we only paid half as much to find out. It solved the dilemma of “Where do we eat today?” and made me feel MUCH better about eating out … at half price it comes out to pretty close to the cost of cooking at home.  That year my daughter was involved in so many activities, it was hard not to eat out a few times a week so it was a win/win situation. 

Not only that, but there were other offerings in the book as well. We got half-price movies, half price mini-golf, and discovered new fun things to do in our community. I even got my oil changed at a discount. The book paid for itself many times over, and we had a much better knowledge of what was offered in our community. The merchants benefit as well by getting new patrons, since we enjoyed so many of the places we visited so much that we became regulars, and recommended them to our friends as well.  And the fundraising really helped with her schooling. I made it a point to tell everyone we sold a book to my experiences, and remind them to USE the books, and we had return customers for years.

Now, a little about the particular book we used. Published by FundRays, Inc., it is used exclusively by schools and other local non-profit groups as a fundraising tool, for which they earn 50% of the sales price. Their area includes Escambia, Baldwin, Okaloosa, and Mobile counties in Florida and Alabama. New books are due to be released February 8^th and will include between 170-220 coupons (depending on which area) with most of them being buy 1-get one free. Some of the merchants are TGI Fridays, Red Lobster, Sonny’s BBQ, Chick-fil-A, Subway, Sonic, Marble Slab Creamery, Big Kahuna’s Water Park, as well as many local-only restaurants, golf, and more. 

If you live in one of these counties, we would strongly urge you to find a local school to support by buying a book, and treat yourself to great savings as well as a fun incentive to visit many new places and discover new favorites as we have done. And if you live in another area, give the local coupon books there a try as well. Whatever you do, don’t put them away in a drawer and forget them. Take them out and USE them and you will find they are well worth the cost!

Being Savvy is a MUST when it comes to mortgages

Shopping for mortgages has changed in the current economy. With the rash of foreclosures over the past several years, it has become harder to qualify in many cases, especially if you have bad credit, but it is not impossible. What has really changed are the options now available and the different financial situations where they may make sense.

In situations where the family has entered a hardship, it may be possible to qualify for a loan modification in order to make payments fit within the family budget. While a modification is possible even after a foreclosure date has been set, it is wise to start shopping for options as soon as you realize that your current situation is going to put you further into debt, so as to preserve your credit rating as much as possible and lessen the chances of added amounts being rolled into a modified principle.

Other types of mortgages exist that can make financial sense in certain situations. The Federal Housing Administration offers an FHA Energy Efficiency Mortgage to low income families in order to make their homes more energy efficient.

The changing housing market has had an impact on the wisdom of taking out home equity loans. It used to be that standard advice suggested it made more sense to borrow against your home’s equity in order to pay off higher-interest loans. That still can be the case, but it also led to many homeowners owing more toward their mortgages than the value of their homes when the housing market declined. Rather than expecting home values to always increase (as we now have clearly seen that they don’t) it is perhaps safer to leave as large a margin as possible in order to protect the equity you do have in your home.

These are just a few of the situations and types of loans you may consider. Many other options exist, some of them tailored to particular financial situations which can make them a wise choice, while for others they may not be.

The bottom line … it pays to be savvy when shopping for mortgages. After all, your home is probably the largest single purchase you will ever make, and the factors that affect how you pay for it will add up many times over, and have a larger impact on your overall financial picture than almost anything else is likely to do.

A Peach of a Deal Site

While browsing Daily Deal sites for our recent post on them, I ran across another that was particularly impressive in its offerings. PlumPeachy.com had what appear to be some especially good bargains.

This set stainless cookware for only $24.99 caught my eye. To be honest, I'm not familiar with the brand, and I like to have first-hand knowledge of a product before I recommend it. But even if they are lightweight, this is a bargain no matter how you look at it. I prefer stainless cookware over aluminum and non-stick (particularly the older style of non-stick) for health reasons, so whenever I see stainless cookware (or glass, enamel, or cast iron, my other standbys) it always gets my attention. For that reason, I'm VERY familiar with the costs and quality levels of these kinds of products, so I can say unreservedly that this has to be a great deal.

(By the way, Amazon.com lists the same set for $49.99, list price is $69.99, eBay has it for $61.25, and it caused quite an online stir when listed for $38.75 but that site -- tanga.com -- is sold out. All these figures offered for comparison of expected costs, and why I found this to be such a great deal.)

Regarding shipping, Plumpeachy.com has a scale that appears to be based on the actual cost to ship an item, which in my opinion is a fair enough practice that I can still recommend them. The cookware set above costs $5 to ship, which isn't unreasonable. A small tool item (offered for just a penny!) was under $3 to ship, and a set of headphones was offered for free shipping.

Going to movies

Guest written by our friend Gladys Fuentes

Every holiday, my husband’s family goes to see a movie in the theater. When my husband and I were dating, this was a new concept to me because my family always spent every holiday at home and we never went anywhere unless it was to my grandmother’s house for dinner. In his family this is not the case. They used to get out the newspaper and spend hours deciding which movie to go to. At least now they have wireless internet so they can look online to see which movies are playing and it speeds up the process a little. They usually go to see whatever family movie is out at the time. It is a little embarrassing marching into the movie theater with his entire extended family, especially since everyone wants to sit together. We do end up having a good time watching the movie, but I would rather sit at home and enjoy each other’s company. It is a lot cheaper than paying for a movie and popcorn, plus you can sit around and talk to each other.

Get your daily deals here!

I love “daily deal” sites. I remember when my daughter was small and we were newly connected to the internet, I found a site that offered deep discounts on a variety of products. We did a lot of our shopping for her Christmas gifts there. I was reminded of this when I read about NoMoreRack on a Mommy blog today.

I went to nomorerack.com and checked it out. You do have to give an email address in order to look at the offerings there, but I must say I was impressed by the very first "daily deal" I saw! Just to be sure, since I hadn’t bought the exact item number, I compared it to some well-known online discount sites (overstock.com and amazon.com) and found the prices to be about 30% cheaper at nomorerack.

When I did a little poking around, I found something even more amazing, though I didn’t catch one while I was there. They also offer “insanity deals” in addition to their daily deals, and the prices really are insane! Would you pay $26.54 for a Playstation 3? (I sure would!) How about a Sony 52” HDTV for only $59.96? Amazing! Electronics aren’t the only products offered in the insanity deals – you can also find Prada, Gucci, and Louis Vuitton for 95% off! These special deals are limited though, and while nomorerack promises to have at least 30 of each item available, they can sell out quickly, so I’d recommend setting up a payment profile there right away in order to snatch up those insane deals before they get away if you happen to see one.

Shipping is always an issue when ordering online, and part of being a savvy shopper is to make sure that you aren’t overpaying when shipping costs are included. We've all seen websites that offer what looks like a great deal, but then they gouge you with shipping charges. Nomorerack charges a flat $2 shipping fee per item, making it one of the most affordable sites as far as shipping costs are concerned.

There are a few other little tidbits. One of the most interesting is that you can get “friend deals” just for sharing the site with friends. All your friends have to do is visit the site and sign up; they don't have to buy anything, and you can receive merchandise completely free. Another thing that I particularly liked is that they include a “charity deal” that will donate to a worthy cause when purchased.

I love running across sites like this, and I enjoy even more sharing them with my readers. So head on over and check out nomorerack.com, maybe you’ll get lucky and run across an insanity deal!

Savvy home improvement

The standard advice used to be that whatever you spent on home improvement was an investment, and could be recouped in the sale of the house. That advice is no longer true today, but some home improvements still make good investment sense.

Among the best places to invest in your home:

• Kitchen updates. Ironically, as fewer and fewer people are cooking, the kitchen has become more important as a selling point in homes today. Buyers want lots of space, and updated high-end appliances. Designer touches like a mosaic tile backsplash or quarry tile floors add function and beauty, and are durable. Refacing cabinets can offer kitchens a lift without the expense of replacing the units. And something as simple as a high-end faucet can add value for a nominal cost. 

• Decks, attic conversions, and other "found space." Anything that increases the living area of a home is usually a good investment. Decks should be sized to complement the home, and not be too large (more than 1/3 of the area of the home) or too small to be functional. Attics, basements, and other unused areas in a home that can be converted into living space can dramatically increase value compared to their cost. Just make sure the space is not too specialized but can serve a variety of functions if you are concerned about resale value. 

• Bathroom updates. Like kitchens, buyers look for modernized baths. Luxury touches such as deep tubs or jetted tubs are a good bet. Modernized shower units are a good selling point. If your color scheme is dated, consider updating to glass tile and a neutral palette. While you want to have enough bathrooms as a convenience factor, large master baths are a good selling point. Which brings us to the next item ... 

• Master suites. Most buyers are looking for a large master bedroom with a large bath attached that they can turn into a relaxing and secluded getaway. Small bedrooms don't sell well, and it might even be worth knocking out a wall or two if your house is old enough to have tiny bedrooms. A home with a large master suite and only one extra bedroom will usually sell faster than one with three smaller bedrooms. 

• Energy efficiency.  Insulation, new windows, new seals, and anything else that makes your home run more efficiently will make it more attractive to buyers, and save you money in the meantime. You may also be eligible for tax credits when you increase your home energy efficiency, so these can be especially smart ways to spend your home improvement dollars. 

And the most important update everyone should consider -- paint. Painting is one of the least expensive updates to a home, but can have some of the most dramatic effects. Neutral colors are best, but that doesn't mean you can't have drama. Dining rooms, for example, if they are large enough, can handle darker shades and dramatic hues, and these are appropriate for rooms where people will be eating. Take special note of the color of the front door and any paintable trim. This can be one of the best and most inexpensive ways to give your home curb appeal. 


On the other hand, there are those updates that, while you might like to add them, are not going to come anywhere near repaying you when you sell the house. Chief among these are swimming pools, which might be a drawing point for some buyers. Just as easily though, buyers can see a pool as a liability in terms of having to maintain it and being responsible for keeping children safe.  Even a beautifully landscaped pool featuring glass mosaic tile murals, while beautiful and certainly enjoyable, might actually decrease your chances of selling your home someday.


So whether you are planning to put your home on the market in the near future, or just want to invest your home improvement dollars where they are most likely to pay you back someday, spend wisely. But most of all, choose improvements that will let you better enjoy your home and make you love it all the more. That's money well spent.

Book your savings here ! Ten ways to save money on books

When Austin Phelps said "Wear the old coat and buy the new book" he meant that books were even better to spend money on than coats, but we'd like to talk about some ways you might be able to have both the book AND the coat ...

• Libraries. Don't overlook these sources of free books. You have to return them, but many books are only to be read and after that will only take up space on a bookshelf anyway. For the newest fiction, or how-to books that you won't keep needing, this can be your best source. If you are fortunate enough to be part of a large library system or one with a good inter-library network, take advantage of it. I miss southern California!

• Alibris.com is one of our favorite online sources. Books from Alibris are often available for free shipping, though this does not extend to those listed on the site by affiliated sellers, and is only available at certain times and with a minimum purchase (usually $30-$50)

• eBay.com and Half.com can be good sources. Both of these can be super-cheap. eBay has a certain risk as sometimes sellers don't follow though, but PayPal offers some protection if you use their services (assuming the seller still has the funds in their account). I do always like to warn people though, since I once paid for a book through eBay and never received it. 

• Amazon.com is another good source. Used sellers sometimes sell books for a few pennies, so that you are only paying shipping, and other books are often available at a discount. Another site that we found in this category is BestBargainBooks.com which lists many books for 1 cent, however you do pay full shipping charges on each book rather than getting a discount for multiple purchases. 

• Overstock stores (like Tuesday Morning). These have been a great source for me when I was not looking for a particular title but only looking for books in general. Can be especially good if you want to give books as gifts, since they are often coffee-table editions at great prices. 

• Charity stores.  (Goodwill, and other stores people donate things to be resold for a charity) These are sometimes super-cheap, depending on the whims of the people who run them. I've gotten hardcover books for 10 cents, and been given some books. Often the price runs closer to $1-$2 for hardcovers, which is still worthwhile if you find something you are looking for. 

• Used bookstores. They tend to have a good selection, but they also have the best knowledge of what their books are worth. If you like Harlequin romance, you can usually find them super cheap, but if you're wanting hardcover art books, they're going to be asking probably up to 50% of the cover price.  

• Online reading sources. Depending on what you are interested in, many MANY older books are available online totally free. Try searching authors or keywords for books written in the early 1900's or before. (I must admit, when the whole e-book craze started, we expected ebooks to be much cheaper than printed volumes, but as of yet their prices are barely discounted and they don't seem to offer an exceptional value unless you want to have digital rather than paper copies.)

• Rummage sales and yard sales. These are usually almost give-away sources for books, though what you might find varies a lot. Not necessarily a good source, but if you are browsing anyway, it's worth taking a look. 

• Online search. It's always worth putting in the exact title of the book in quotes and doing a search, and you might find a source that offers the book for less than the ones we've mentioned. 

Good reading!!!

How can I save money on pet supplies?

We love our pets, and know that you do too. After going out today to buy some supplies, we realized others might benefit from our sources.

Prices can vary wildly on pet supplies. Sometimes sources you may not have thought of can be your best places to shop. Check out these for great deals ...

• Feed stores (farm stores). This is actually the first place we check for certain supplies. You can often find high quality feeds here. If you buy animal bedding, aspen shavings can be bought in huge bales meant for horse stalls for just a few dollars more than a small brick at a pet shop. If you have small animals, water bottles of higher quality and lower price are usually available here. Also often a good source for toys, collars, and leashes for large dogs, as well as no-nonsense rubber or galvanized feeding pans. 

• Chain pet stores. Many things here are overpriced, in our opinion, but there are some exceptions. Because they have such a huge variety of toys for cats, birds, and other small animals, they often put many of them on clearance on a regular basis, and we just go through and check the cheap prices. 

• Discount stores. Many of the products here may be cheap, but they are often of inferior quality as well. This can be a good source for books (sometimes, check online as well), or for name brand products that may be overstocks elsewhere, such as Nylabones. 

• Grocery stores. Usually not a good source. The exceptions can be if they decide to size down their pet supplies or if they get holiday products for pets, and they may discount them deeply. Larger items such as cat litter boxes may fall under this category. Pet foods, pet treats, and kitty litter seldom do. 

• Big box stores. These can be great for pet foods, treats, and kitty litter. I especially like Costco, for their Kirkland's brand, which is close to premium quality food for about the same price as a commercial brand elsewhere. 

• Overstock stores. Merchandise varies, and you need to know the price you expect to pay before you go in. They tend to carry higher-end products, at something of a discount. Near Christmastime is the best time to shop there for pets, and pet beds are one of the better buys there. (I got a really cool camo-print bed for one of my cats at a great price at Ross.) Fancy designer dishes, etc. are also often good buys and frequently available. 

• Online. We actually don't buy many pet supplies online, but it pays to check out before investing in a major purchase. If the seller offers free or discounted shipping, this can be your best bet.  

I hope this helps you be kind to your furry friends, AND your pocketbook at the same time. Happy shopping!

Great gifts for outdoor living

Still deliberating over the perfect gift for this holiday season? Most of us have our thoughts focused indoors this time of year, but if your gift recipient loves the outdoors like I do, they might appreciate a gift that reminds them of balmy breezes and helps them look forward to getting back to their outdoor activities.

Patio furnishings make great gifts. A unique planter can show off a favorite plant. Adirondack chairs offer style and bring to mind relaxing in the shade with a good book. A potting table is a very practical gift for a gardener and makes working with plants even more enjoyable. A porch swing or glider is a welcome retreat from summer chores. If your recipient's patio is already fully furnished, new cushions in an outdoor fabric can brighten things up. Accessories such as fountains, wind chimes, rain chains, bird feeders, and birdhouses all make wonderful gifts.


Yard furnishings and decorations are good choices as well. Consider park benches to place in the shade along a garden path inviting the gardener to rest and enjoy the scenery. Garden statuary or a gazing ball placed in just the right spot can surprise or invite contemplation. Birdbaths and fountains add enchantment and interest to a garden. Stone or wood planters can help set the mood and emphasize special landscaping plants. Kits to make personalized stepping stones are available and the finished stones can be nice gifts for grandparents when they feature children's artwork, hand prints, or footprints.

Don't forget children, but in this case you might want to limit it to gifts they can get some use from right away, like child-sized picnic tables that may be set up in a sun-room. Gifts such as playground equipment are a lot of fun, but are best for children who live in places that will allow them to use the equipment right away. A swing-set can be a disappointment for children when they are told they must wait several months before they can play on it. If the child does live in a snowy climate, a sled, snow tube, snowboard, ice skates, a snow tunnel, or a mold for making snow forts would be much more appreciated.


Just because winter has you chased inside the house, doesn't mean you can't look forward to getting back outside in warmer weather, and you can help your loved ones dream of sunnier times too. And next year while they enjoy your gifts, they will be reminded of you and appreciate your thoughtfulness.

How the new advertising works for YOU (the Savvy Shopper)

You're a savvy shopper. You want to find great deals, discounts, and coupons on the things you are shopping for. You’re also interested in clever products being developed with new features to answer your changing needs. When it’s time to shop for gifts, you want unique and exciting items to make your gift stand out from the crowd. The job of the advertising agency is to put these kinds of information out there and draw you to their clients’ products.

In the digital age, advertising has undergone a subtle shift -- one that can be a great advantage to the shopper, as well as to makers and sellers of outstanding products. Social media plays a key role here. If your friend on Facebook finds a company that offers a low price on the hottest new item, they can “share” that with you (and all their other friends!). In return, you may tweet about it on Twitter to let other people know about it. Someone sees that post, and adds their own favorite sale or coupon link.


Now it’s not only your own eyes looking for the latest and greatest, but your friends as well. If those in your groups share the same interests and values, their suggestions are likely to be even more relevant to you. Trading information with your friends can benefit all of you, and certainly help the advertiser of the product get the word out there when he has something to promote.

This phenomenon will certainly be growing. You might take a moment to visit your favorite retailers’ Facebook sites (if they have one) and “like” them, which usually gives you access to their ongoing sales. Your friends can also see what sites you like, helping them find useful sellers as well.  Pass it on!!!

Best value for flower arrangements and floral gifts

We’re all about getting the most for your money. When it comes to flower delivery uk one of the things to consider is how long flowers can be enjoyed for the cost you invest to send them.

Some may consider fresh flowers to be frivolous things, but there is nothing like the lift they provide, especially to someone who is ill and cannot get outside, or during the long months of winter when flowers are nowhere to be found. If you give (or receive) flowers, you want them to last as long as possible.

Start with a very clean vase, and provide lukewarm water (except in the case of bulb flowers, which do better with cold water). Cut the stems of the flowers in the diagonal under running water and place them into the vase containing warm water and the flower additive of your choice.

There are many cut flower additives meant to prolong freshness, some better than others. Suggestions include aspirin, sugar, pennies, and often the florist provides a packet of flower additive. Aspirin is probably only helpful for the small amount of food it offers the flowers, but this is much less than sugar would provide. Pennies were once meant to adjust the pH in the water, but since pennies are no longer made of copper, that advice is outdated. Your best bet is really the commercial flower additives, or as a second choice, sugar.

Another option to increase the value from florist’s offerings is to buy live plants instead. Sometimes flowering plants are offered, offering the best of both worlds. At this time of year, poinsettias, Christmas rose,  cyclamen, and Christmas cactus are especially popular. Many florists also offer long-lasting holiday wreaths.

For the ultimate in flower longevity, some florists even deliver silk flowers, or plants with silk flowers tucked in among the leaves. One of my favorite arrangements was a small green ivy plant I used to keep on my desk at work. The ivy was growing on a tiny trellis and had miniature silk flowers woven among the stems. It delighted everyone who came into my office, and they all tried to figure out what sort of plant it was, since that plant didn’t normally bear flowers, ruffled pink or otherwise. 

Whichever you choose, make sure to get the most for your money. Help your flowers last as long as possible (or even forever!).

More Options for Holiday Cash

Try earning extra cash for the holidays and clearing out unneeded items at the same time. There are a number of good options for putting your old stuff to work for you.

eBay - usually offers specials around the holidays, allowing you to list at no cost. Fees can be higher, but you have a very wide exposure. Accepting Paypal is the easiest way to be paid, but not yet required through eBay.

etsy.com - similar to eBay and growing in popularity, etsy is a good place to list handcrafted items (according to the rules, they are supposed to be something you yourself made) and vintage/collectible items. Fees are lower than eBay.

Craigslist - a local option, best for large items that would not ship well. Since it usually involves meeting face to face, you should take precautions, perhaps meeting your buyer in a public place, and accepting only cash.

Have a garage sale if the weather isn't too bad. Better yet, organize with your neighbors and have a neighborhood sale. Advertise in advance and you could pull in a lot of shoppers.

Not usually good for cash, but if you are shopping for your children, say, you might be able to take their outgrown clothing and toys to a consignment or resale shop and swap their items for new things. Resale shops might give you a better price for your items if you are willing to take it in store credit instead of cash, but make sure there are things you'd like to have from that store first.

The last option won't get you cash, but it's worth mentioning.

Hold a swap - this takes some organization, but can be a lot of fun. If you are part of a local group of some kind (gym, church, school, club, etc.) have everyone bring extra items they would be willing to sell at a garage sale, have everything given a "credit" value, and basically "shop" from each other's surplus. Because there will likely be un-claimed items, it's best to consider items you brought as something you'd be willing to donate. Let people take home their un-traded items if they like, but everything else can go to charity and get a tax deduction for your organization.

Doorbusters – are they worth it?

You know the scene. So many people anxious to be first in line to assure they snag one of the coveted (but limited items) that crowd control techniques are needed. The merchandise has to be contained behind barricades in order to keep shoppers from grabbing them before the appointed time. Lines so long at checkout that stanchions have to be set up to weave people toward the registers – probably not with the luxury of velvet rope, but more likely with something resembling police tape for the sake of its psychological impact to keep the crowds orderly.

Is it really worth it? Well, it depends. Partially on the constitution of the shopper. Some enjoy getting out there and elbowing their way through crowds. However, when I hear about people actually getting hurt in circumstances like this, I have to wonder if any deal is worth it. Especially when you consider that very often, you can get the same deal throughout the Black Friday weekend, or perhaps get it even cheaper on Cyber Monday. If sales are not particularly brisk, the same deals or better are often offered throughout the shopping season leading up to Christmas. (And for that matter, they are sometimes discounted even MORE deeply after Christmas.

You do have choices. Some stores have much less competitive crowds than others. A good hint is that if they are lining up on the front walk the day before the sale, you might want to reconsider. Sometimes the item is not so severely limited that only the first few shoppers get one. It might be worth contacting the store to ask. You can always go online before hitting the stores and see how much you can save that way. Or you might visit the store once the rush has died down and get the recipient a gift card which can be used at the store AFTER the holiday to buy at comparable prices (this is especially good for many seasonal clothing items and “gift” items, such as robes, slippers, boxed sets, etc. which are often marked 75% off the day after Christmas).

So be savvy in your shopping. Sometimes there may be that one special thing that you just can’t get any other way, and you may decide to go for it. If you do, then be safe. But there just might be a better way.

Happy Shopping!

Another unique gift idea

Finding a unique item often inspires ideas for creative ways to give it as a gift. A good example are the cotton scrub sets we found in baby (and children's) sizes.

Do you know a doctor with a new baby? A set of medical scrubs for the baby would make a cute gift. The same could be true of new parents who are ambitious about their infant's future. Or if you want to make a special gift for to the new baby, how about a savings bond to start the child's college fund, presented with an adorable set of baby scrubs?

Or maybe you know a child who is determined to be a doctor. My daughter went through that stage, and for quite a while she enjoyed playing with a real stethoscope given her by her uncle (who was a pediatrician) as she played doctor to all her stuffed animals. Since she still says she's going to vet school, it seems the dream stayed with her. She would have LOVED a set of scrubs to go with her medical kit and stethoscope.

They say it's the thought that counts ... any time you find a unique item like this that fits the situation so perfectly, you have a chance to give a gift that will stand out and be remembered for years.

Image courtesy of  http://www.blueskyscrubs.com/

The Move From Hell

Guest written by our friend Jan Petersen

My last move was really the move from hell. I have moved several times in the last few years due to circumstances beyond my own control, which has been terrible. So, I’ve had my fair share of tough moves. Due to these circumstances, I consider myself an experienced mover, and pride myself on staying organized and calm when everything seems to be out of control. This last move was so bad, that I almost thought I’d lose it. First, the movers showed up three hours late, and made up a bogus story about how they were stuck on the highway behind a serious, unmovable accident. Due to their tardiness, we weren’t able to get everything out of my apartment on time, and my complex charged me a $100 fine. Right when I thought the worst of it was over, we got to my new apartment and it hadn’t been cleaned yet. It was really a dirty! I felt like this move would never be over, and that everything was just getting harder. Luckily, a few days later when I was searching for a satellite TV provider I found CannonSatellite.com. They had some really great offers that I couldn’t resist. I was grateful that at least one aspect of the move was easy!

Carpet Cleaning? Be Savvy!

Company is coming for the holidays, and you want to have your house in perfect shape to welcome them. One task many homeowners are going to be tackling is cleaning their carpets.

I've gone back and forth on this one, but I want to share my experiences and maybe save you some headaches (and backaches!). I saw the machines in the store and thought, “I can do this myself, and save some money!” So, I went to the store and rented the machine. The typical cost is usually around $25-35 these days, with the attachment needed usually running another few dollars. Then there is the cleaning solution, which (depending on brand) is typically another $8-20. Sometimes you then find out that you have to buy extra solutions, like a de-foamer. Tack on a few more dollars. By the time it’s all totaled up, I think I usually spent about $65-75. Well … I’m still saving a few dollars? Right?

Lug the machine home, fill it with hot water and chemicals. Move furniture, go over the carpet, dump the machine and clean it. Move furniture some more, fill machine again, go over the carpet, dump the machine and clean it again. Usually I had to repeat a few times. And in the end, clean the machine one last time. Drive back to the rental place to return it (usually in a hurry and afraid I’m going to go over because everything took longer than I expected!). In the end, I did save a few dollars. Although I doubt that’s still true when you add in gas for picking up and returning the machine, and also the fast food I picked up for the family because I was too busy to cook. In the end, for my trouble I got a carpet that was cleaned with do-it-yourself equipment and chemicals. For almost the same price as a professional cleaning. That's when I made a mental note … next time, consider the alternatives carefully!

So the next time, that’s what I did. I checked with local carpet cleaning companies, and found one that offered coupons and seemed reputable. I called them and made an appointment. They showed up, THEY moved the furniture, THEY cleaned the carpet (much faster than I had done!), and THEY put the furniture back. Then they were finished, and I couldn't believe how much faster they accomplished the task.

The carpet was also much drier than it had been when I had used the rental machine. It had taken almost 24 hours to dry when I did it myself. The carpet company promised it would be dry in a few hours, and it was! So thanks to my coupons, I had a professionally cleaned carpet for about the same price I had paid, all things considered, to do it myself. And without all the hassle – the only thing I had to do was be there for the short time it took for the cleaning.

So, if you are planning on cleaning your carpet for holiday guests, do yourself a favor. Check the DIY prices, and make sure you count ALL the products you will need (they don’t always tell you about all of it until after you begin the rental process and they figure they’ve got you!). Then search the web for carpet cleaning coupons. Austin-based The Steam Team (http://www.thesteamteam.com)offers a $99 special, for example, that would rival DIY prices. You just might decide it’s a savvy-shopping move to hire a professional in this case!

My own Christmas wish list

Well … it’s official. My old stereo is broken. It makes CDs sound like the vocalists are caught in slow motion. Underwater. And horses are stomping on them. That's not how I like my music to sound, so it’s time to start looking at new stereo receivers.

I have to say I’m a bit disappointed. I LIKED my old stereo. It was the newest thing when I first got it. It played MP3s that I had recorded on CD, and I could put hundreds of songs on a single disc. I always thought that was pretty cool, and with a 5 disc changer, I could load enough music to play for over a week without hearing the same song twice, if I wanted. I’m going to miss that stereo.

But I hadn’t looked recently at what is now available, and now that I am looking, I’m getting excited! There are streaming media receivers that have ports for my iPhone and iPod, so I can still play my MP3s, but I won't need to copy them to disc first now. Not only that, but I would have access to almost twenty thousand internet radio stations (and I thought a couple hundred television channels were overwhelming! But fortunately, the radio stations are listed by genre online). And all of my favorite podcasts would be at my fingertips as well. This is going to be just too cool.

Oh, and I almost forgot -- it plays local AM and FM too.

Oh, Santa ..... Now where did he go?

Choosing gifts for hard-to-buy-for people

I was trying to think of a gift for my brother who seems to have everything. Usually for people like that I seek out something unique that hopefully they have never seen, and that reflects their personality, which often ends up being some decorative thing. But my brother is very practically minded, and probably wouldn’t appreciate something like that. He’s also something of a gadget junkie, so I tried to think of the most practical accessory that he might not already have for one of his prized electronic toys.

I ended up looking at iPad and iPhone accessories, especially covers. I know he has one for his iPhone, and we’ve discussed the merits of one type vs. another in depth, so I already had an idea of what features were important to him. So I looked at covers for ipad since he didn’t have one of those yet. I know he loves to cook (he could be a gourmet if he wasn’t going to medical school instead!), and the cover that fits the iPad is perfect to keep spills and splashes off the screen while reading recipes.

(I’m thinking I could use one of those myself. I usually get recipes from my iPhone, and copy them on paper since I don’t want my iPhone in the kitchen while I’m cooking – I tend to splatter or end up with flour dusting everywhere!)

So there you have it … a practical gift that will be used and appreciated. Now, I might have to get him one of those funny little figurines with a med student to go along with it.

Savvy shopping for domains and web hosts

Recently we posed about earning extra cash for the holidays from your website or blog. If you’re interested in getting started earning money online, the first things you need to consider are your domain name, and your website hosting service.

A good domain name will help people remember you, and make it easier to find you online. That translates into a site that is worth more money online, so try to choose one that represents the theme of your website. Whatever people will type in the search bar when they want to read what you are writing is a good choice for your domain name.

The next consideration is your webhost, which is a service you pay to put your site on the computer so it can be found. There are many providers to choose from, each one charging different fees and offering different features. From among a number of sites compared side by side, we found one as inexpensive as $1.99 per month. And cheap web hosting doesn’t have to mean a lack of service … this one (Webhostingpad.com) offers a number of helpful features, and you can read almost 1,000 customer reviews for an insight into the experiences other customers have had with them.

I’m impressed by this webhost ranking service and the information it provides. My webhost is on the list (I won’t tell you which one it is, LOL) but I will say that when my renewal comes up, I may be moving to a better and cheaper provider. So check out your options, and choose the best one for you. After all, isn’t that what Savvy Shopping is all about?

Fun Gift Idea for iPhone Users

Are you having trouble deciding on a gift for someone who “has it all”? If they are an iPhone user, we have a great idea for you! This is something I’ve looked for since the first month I started using an iPhone myself, and I was really excited to see it.

ImToo iPhone Transfer Platinum lets you transfer media files between your computer and iPhone (it also supports other devices like iPods). Now you can load music from your favorite CD, or transfer DVD movies to your iPhone and take them with you. (It also works with iPads.) The transfer goes both ways – you can transfer media file from your iPhone to your computer and enjoy them there, or as a way to backup your iPhone. It works with a wide range of formats, making it easy to move videos, movies, music, photos, books – a full range of media options.

And as a fun bonus, you can make your own custom ringtones from any audio or video file and load them on your iPhone. I’ve always wanted to have a Tarzan yell ringtone for my rambunctious nephew, and wouldn’t it be cool to have a heartbeat tone when the love of your life calls? Someone from work who only calls to complain could be a crying baby sound, and maybe you know someone who would be great with a quote from “The Godfather”. All in all, you can have a LOT of fun with this, and for that reason, it makes a perfect gift. Enjoy!

Unique $5 gifts

Check out fiverr.com for a host of things people are willing to do/sell/make for just $5. Many of the offerings are a bit off the wall (but then again, maybe you'd like to have someone's feet sing a video message?) but there are also a lot of talented people doing quick jobs that would make a good gift.

Maybe you'd like to have a line drawing done of a beloved pet? Matted and framed, it would make a nice gift. Or a caricature drawn of someone? Usually you would pay more than $5 for a personal caricature, especially at a vacation spot. Or have a photo printed on your own magazine cover. There are lots of fun, quick gift ideas available.

I may even list some of my own. I can spell out anything in chocolate, with letter-shaped chocolate candies I make. I wonder if there's a market ... ;)

Holiday Shopping Tips continued ...

More holiday shopping tips ...

Consider alternative gifts, especially if you don’t know what to get someone who “has everything”. Oftentimes personal touches can be more appreciated than something storebought. My aunt compiled a book of recipes, family memories, and photos from our grandmother’s things, and that thought has meant more than any amount spent on gadgets.

If you have a large family, drawing names can be a lot more practical than rushing about, spending money on each person. There can be the added fun of wondering who has whose name, and a lot more personal thought can go into selecting a single gift (as well as a lot less money).

You might even consider a “dirty Santa” type gift exchange if your gift-giving circle can appreciate something like this. One place I worked in the past did this each year, and the only requirement was that the gift be something made by the giver. Each gift is wrapped, and each person draws a number. The person with number one gets to select and open any gift. The person with number two then has a choice of selecting another gift, or “stealing” the gift from whoever had number one, who would then select an unopened gift. The game continues with each new person having a choice of any already opened gift, or a new one. It is usually best to put a limit on how many times a gift can be “stolen” or the game can get out of hand.

Be aware of hidden expenses. If you normally eat at home, but grab a take-out lunch or dinner every time you shop, you spend more, especially if you make lots of small trips. The same can be said of gas, with the cost being so high these days. If you go out time after time and retrace your steps, you could save a lot by making fewer trips.

Sales can help you save money, but beware of what are advertised as special deals, even “doorbusters” that in fact aren’t any lower than the regular sale price. An an alternative, you might be able to save a lot online. Sites like cybermonday.com compile online sales and special offers like free shipping to help you find good deals. Don’t forget you can also do your own research online, simply by searching for the product you want to buy and sometimes adding terms like “discount” and “cheap” if you have the time to wade through not-so-cheap offers taking advantage of the keywords. But in the process, you will likely find sites that will save you money consistently in categories you tend to continue shopping in.

Above all, don’t stress, and have fun!

Holiday Shopping Tips

Keep more green in your pocket this Christmas season by employing a few simple tips and money-saving strategies.

First, carry cash. While it can be argued that you have a level of protection with credit or debit cards that you don’t have with cash (if cash is lost, it is gone), but if you take care to keep your cash safe (for instance, carry the bulk of it in a safer location not easily pick-pocketed, and don’t flash the larger amount in public), you can reap some psychological advantages to paying with cash. Plastic money doesn’t seem like “real money” on some deeper level, but it’s always hard to turn loose of the green stuff. Better yet, carry only large denominations, which are even harder to break, and you’ll be much less likely to plop down payments for small purchases that add up to big expenses.

If you do choose to use credit cards, consider the terms if you have more than one to choose from. Know which ones offer the lowest interest, or incentives (ones that actually add up to something and not just teasers). Watch out especially for over-limit penalties that could incur a penalty charge and/or increase in interest rates.

Keep a budget sheet and write down what you spend as you go. If you tend to buy multiple small gifts for some of the people on your list, you can easily forget what you’ve already spent and go over budget. Even if you buy only one gift for each person, it’s a good idea to keep a running tally so you don’t overspend. You may want to include other holiday expenses as well, such as decorations or food for parties.

Speaking of writing things down, a list of what you plan to get for each recipient can also help. Making a shopping list in advance gives you the chance to check circulars for sales and compare prices, and helps prevent lots of impulse buying, which the stores are experts at manipulating you into.

To be continued in Part 2 ...

Best holiday gifts for kids

Children are so much fun to buy gifts for – parents look forward to Christmas morning as much as children do, especially when you know you’ve chosen a gift the kids are sure to love. These toys deliver fun for kids, and parents can feel confident buying them since they are also educational.

For very small children, play IS their education. Toys that represent real life things give children an outlet for expression and exploring how things work. Dollhouses with lots of common household items and figures can inspire hours of fun play. Farm sets with many animals and fences are fun as well, and can spark discussions of what jobs animals can do, where our food comes from, and much more. Train sets with a wide variety of types of pieces pair building exercises with imaginary play. Dramatic play can be inspired by dress-up clothing and accessories, and life-sized accessories such as play kitchens and food as well as dolls and stuffed animals.

Slightly older children are ready for building. Legos and wooden construction blocks with many shapes are ideal for them. Discovery Toys also makes a marble run that can be put together in hundreds of configurations. Craft kits and crafting supplies are great for exploring how things go together too, but pay attention to the suggested age on the craft kits to avoid frustrating children.

The older children become, they more difficult it is to engage their interests in educational toys, but this is where knowing the child well pays off. Perhaps a model of the human skeleton to be assembled would be fun for them, or maybe they would be more interested in digging for fake fossils. More detailed craft and artistic pursuits may be the key, or a junior version of a musical instrument for the musically inclined.

Whatever the age level and interests of the child, there are worthwhile purchases sure to excite them and satisfy adults that the money was well spent. Check for local educational toy stores for a broad range of options, and remember that books make a great gift too, when tailored to the child’s interests.

Totally UNIQUE gift ideas

Have you ever had someone open a gift ... just like the one you chose for them and right before they opened yours? Or open a gift and say, "Oh, I have one of these already?" That won't happen when you seek unique gifts off the beaten path. Are you ready for unique gift ideas? These were all found at Vat19.com.

The first thing I saw was the "World's Largest Gummy Bear" - a five-pound confection equal to 1400 regular gummy bears! I have an online friend who is always talking about getting gummy bears, so I had to stop what I was doing and immediately send her a chat message with a link. I should have messaged her husband instead and told him what she would like for Christmas. But I know a few gummy-bear fans, and these would be perfect for them. (By the way, the "burning questions" video on that page is pretty funny too!)

And I have to say I love this: a hat with an attached beard. In the small photos, the man looks kind of like an action figure. It takes a SECURE kind of guy to wear something like this, but actually I think it's kind of cool. Errrr, warm. It would do a nice job of keeping beardless faces warm.By the way, the beard is detachable, so he can wear the hat without beard. And it comes in several beard and hat color combinations.

There are so many other unique gifts that it's easy to choose something perfectly suited for everyone on your list. For the chocolate lover? How about a chocolate-scented candle in a Hershey's syrup can? For your favorite RPG gamer, how about a set of pushpins that look like medieval weapons? Wouldn't it be cool to pin up your note with a battleaxe? (Also a good way to let the recipient of your note know that you mean business!)

For the quirky environmentalist (or someone who has to deal with one)? An insulated porcelain cup with a silicone lid that looks exactly like a throwaway cup is sure to spark conversations. How about a practical gift for your favorite desk jockey? What could be more appreciated than a very stylish looking beverage mat that plugs in via USB and keeps your drink either steaming hot or icy cold with the flip of a switch? And for a truly thoughtful gift that would be loved by any recipient, how about a talking photo album that records 10 seconds of loved ones speaking to go along with each photo.

Those special gifts are out there ... and worth taking the time to find!

Save money on your grocery bill

Grocery costs are probably one of the most significant expenses in our budget that is also very much under our control. But saving money on groceries doesn't have to mean eating lower quality food.

• Don't shop on an empty stomach. This can be one of the best money-savers out there. When you're hungry, it's much easier to grab impulse items and your bill can easily go up by 20%
• Plan your meals. Decide what you plan to eat for the next two weeks, and don't forget to include leftovers in your plan. Compare what you will need with an inventory of your groceries on hand so you buy only what you'll need
• Check the grocery ads before you plan your meals. Mass-mailed coupons (or those clipped from your newspaper) are often not worth using, since they are often for more expensive and less nutritious products, but signing up for email specials from your favorite stores can get you some worthwhile discounts. 
• Check generic products. In many cases, I've been pleasantly surprised by their quality, and there are certain things I will ONLY buy the store brand, since I've found it to be of better quality (HEB Orange juice and ketchup, Sam's choice chocolate chip cookies, etc.)
• Consider the nutritional value of your foods. Often "junk foods" are overpriced and don't add to your nutritional needs, although they will add to your waistline. Skipping foods like potato chips and soda in favor of fresh fruits and flavored teas can save you money and help your family get healthier. 
• Buy produce in season. Strawberries that cost $1.50 in early summer can run as much as $4 during winter, and are less likely to be fresh. If you must have non-seasonal produce, compare the price of canned and frozen with fresh. 
• Stock up on sales. Certain things you know you will use, and when they are offered as loss leaders you can really save. If you have a way to save the food long-term, go ahead and buy whatever you can use during the storage term. Some foods like flour can be purchased for about 80% less if you buy in bulk. 
• Use less meat. Since meat is one of the most expensive foods, per pound, look for alternatives. Cutting down on meats will improve most people's diets as well. Consider eggs as a protein source, try a meatless meal at least once a week, and look into meals that use less meat per serving (such as homemade chili instead of steak or roast beef). 
• Use up your leftovers. Many foods are suitable to be tossed into a container and frozen for use later. Mixed veggies can be frozen and made into stew, potatoes can serve as a thickener, etc. With many foods you can also prepare a single meal of leftovers and freeze it for later when you need a quick easy meal.
• Making foods from scratch. This can be a HUGE money-saver, and not as difficult as you might think. Start with just one recipe, like tomato sauce instead of a canned sauce, and work up from there. I've gotten to the point that I prefer to make many of my own bread and pastry products, and now I am experimenting with copycat recipes for restaurants so that I don't even need to go out and pay for those cravings.

Earn Extra Cash for Holiday Shopping

Running a little short of cash for your holiday shopping list? There are many ways to make extra cash online in your spare time. If you like to blog, you can visit sites that offer an opportunity to advertise on your blog or website. When looking for such a service, it is especially helpful to those just starting out to look for an agency that offers helpful features such as a 24/7 support team and/or a variety of helpful tools.

If your intent is to earn cash for holiday shopping, check the payment terms of the agency. Some pay within a couple of weeks, and for others there is a longer delay that might extend too far to be of use in time. There is always next year, though. *smile*

Stay tuned for more tips on how to earn extra income!

Can you believe you can buy this???

Ok, I'll admit it up front, this post is NOT going to be about Savvy Shopping. But in previewing a lot of various things around the web in preparation for some upcoming shopping posts, a few things really jumped out as being REALLY unique, and I thought it would be fun to show them. So this is going to be a totally fun post ... maybe I'll subtitle it "Gifts for the person who REALLY has everything!"

Let's start with a giant inflatable climbing iceberg ... for the person who has everything, why not set them up their own amusement park? A 14' tall 3-sided floating toy reminiscent of rock-climbing, and the 4th side is a waterslide. Only $6,000.

Now, let's say you want to go water-skiing, but you don't have anyone to drive the boat? No problem. just pull out your trusty Skier-Controlled Tow Boat and drive yourself anywhere you want to go. Actually, this is pretty cool too, since you can create wakes and control every aspect of the boat for a skiier's dream ride. Oh, and this one will set you back $17,000.

Would you believe a hovercraft? And it goes 60mph. You and a friend can cruise the waterways of the world in style, winding into places that can't be reached by other watercraft. This one runs $17,000. Now, if they could only invent one that would run on the road, ala Star Wars ...

How about a motorized monocycle? I've seen these on TV, but what a thrill it would be to ride one! The cycle is motor propelled and steered by leaning to one side or the other. As much as I enjoyed steering water ride-ons with balance, I'd be willing to bet this would be a lot of fun. Price on this one is $13,000.









And the absolute Pièce de résistance? How about a 20 foot animatronic Triceratops? It moves its head, stomps its feet, rumbles and roars. Everyone needs one of these by their pool ... check out the video. This one is $350,000. Just a wee bit out of my price range.

Savvy shopping - stacking discounts

Stacking discounts is one of the best ways to save money and shop savvy. Most stores won't allow this, but there are some exceptions.

Kohl's for example sends out periodic discount coupons to cardholders. Typically these are for 10, 20, 25, or 30% off. Sometimes they include "Kohl's Cash" as an extra incentive ... such as receiving a $10 credit to spend in the store for every $50 spent.

What really starts slashing the prices is that these can be stacked with discounts, such as sales prices and even clearance prices.

I bought a pair of boots, originally marked $90. They had been marked down 90%, which made them only $9 -- a great bargain already. Paired with a 30% discount, that brought the price down to a mere $6.20. And ... if I can manage to spend exactly $50 on that trip (which I can usually work out with a discounted pair of socks or whatever is needed to bring my total up as needed) that gives me a store credit of 20% of the sales price, which is like another discount of about $1.25 to be applied to my next visit, making the total cost of the boots under $5!

By shopping the clearance section (and I found a wide range of sizes and styles, though often it was out of season clothing, except for underthings) I managed to spend just over $5 on $100 original cost. Imagine the wardrobe I was able to buy by spending just $100! I had boots, tennis shoes, jeans, lots of shirts, pajamas, underthings ... in all nearly $2,000 worth of clothing at original prices, all for just over $100 (including the discounts that would be applied to the next visit).

Even if you don't want to buy a season ahead (and many things were for the current season) you can still save a significant amount by stacking these discounts with regular sale prices, which are typically 15-50% off. That actually increases the value of your extra discounts, so the difference between sale vs. clearance is not as great, and sales items include the hot new styles of the current season.

If we find other stores that do this, we will share the details here, but for now, I know that Kohl's is a great place to stack your discounts and save a LOT of money, and THAT is savvy shopping!

Christmas ... already?

Savvy shopping for some of us means cutting down on how much we spend overall. In the case of Christmas gifts, waiting until "Tis the Season" can cost you more as you have less time to prepare.

Sit down now with a list of those you plan to shop for this holiday season. (By the way, KEEP this list, as just having a list and sticking to it will help save money as well, especially if you tend to forget that little thing you already got for someone!)

What kinds of gifts will each person appreciate? Maybe there are things you can spend less on that people might appreciate just as much, or more. Grandparents might especially appreciate a scrapbook of their grandchildren, or a stepping stone for their garden made with the child's handprints.

Do you have a special talent? Maybe you make cool-funky jewelry that your BFF would LOVE to receive? Or maybe you know how to knit, and your father would like a knitted scarf that perfectly matches his blue eyes, made by his own daughter's loving hands? Let your imagination run free now, while you still have the time to plan and prepare.

When it comes down to the last minute, you'll end up in the packed stores, cash in hand, looking for something to buy, and much more likely to overspend or be unsatisfied with the choices available. Preparation now can help you have gifts already lined up for at least some of your shopping list, and save you money in the long run.

Edmonton - Where Canada Shops!

Edmonton is THE place for shopping in Canada. How can you doubt it when Edmonton is the home of both Canada’s first mall (Westmount Centre) as well as West Edmonton Mall, reported to be the largest mall in the North America and one of the largest in the world. No wonder it is used as a testing ground for many American retailers for the Canadian market.

There are a number of other malls in Edmonton as well, many of which have undergone renovation within the past few years or are currently being updated. Besides malls, Edmonton is also home to power centres and big box shopping for those seeking deals. South Edmonton Common has the distinction of being North America’s biggest open air retail establishment.

If you don’t like that sort of atmosphere, Edmonton also boasts shopping districts that house a variety of independent retailers, which are a wonderful source for more unusual items, especially clothing. Old Strathcona is one such shopping area. Filled with historic buildings, the stores in the area offer some of the most unique shopping opportunities. And if you enjoy nightlife and clubs, this is a party district. The area abounds with restaurants and coffee shops, and is a rich theatre venue as well, if you want to enjoy a break from all that shopping.

Hiring a photographer

Hiring a photographer will usually take a bit of research to find a good fit, and get the best price without sacrificing quality. A good place to start is your local craigslist. If photographers in your area are using it to advertise, check to see if they have links to online galleries of their work. That would be a good starting place to see if you like their work.

Is it imaginative, does it flatter the people being photographed, does the photographer have good skills? You can usually cross a few off your list when you see their work side by side with others, and there will usually be another few whose work you really like that rise to the top of your wish list.

The next thing is to read over their printed information, and get a feel for how they do their business. Don’t be put completely off by prices at this time, but it is a factor. Choose the ones you think are most promising and contact them.

If a photographer has an open slot (especially if your event is coming up soon) and he wants to fill it, he may give you a better deal than he normally charges. Or if your event is on a weekday, you may get a price break.


There are other things you may be able to do to get a discount. Find out what the full service usually entails, and see if you can go without some of those things. Maybe the typical fee is for 4 hours, and you only need 3? Or maybe the photographer plans on being in 2 locations, and you only need one. Maybe he usually brings an assistant, and you can get by without it if your event is a simple one.

Even better, most of the time a photographer puts into their work is in the editing phase. And most of the expense comes from the printing process. So … if you are adept at editing your own photos, and if you don’t mind receiving the images digitally and printing them out yourself later, you may be able to get a huge break on this part of the photographer’s services.

Lastly, talk to your photographer on the phone before you commit. Make sure it’s someone you can get along with and work with. If not and there is tension between you and the photographer, you will never be able to get the best shots.

And be clear about what the expectations are as far as payment. Expect to pay the photographer at least part of what is owed before the work begins, often just to reserve the date. Hopefully you can make the final portion of the payment when you pick up your photos, or DVD, or whatever format you select for your final photos.

Fantastic Kitchen Finds

I can always find things I want for my kitchen, but my search this time was for the unique. With the holidays coming up, it's a good time to keep your eyes open for great gift ideas.

Bar-B-Q Brander - The picture says "Your name here" but it comes with a full set of letters, so actually you can write any message you want on it. It's probably not the best way to propose "Marry me, Marsha!" and I wouldn't exactly advise you to stamp "USDA Armadillo" on your steaks but it could be fun ...

Heart Wooden Spoon - OK, now this one is just plain sweet. I love it! I have a set of wooden and stainless steel utensils in a ceramic jar next to my stove, and I could SO see this nestled in among my other spoons. Much as I love wooden spoons, it's actually hard to find one with rounded enough edges AND a deep enough bowl to be useful at all, so I would really love to have this. I'm sure any other cook on your list that enjoys wooden spoons, either for cooking or decoration, would love it as well!

The two previous items were both found at FunSlurp.com along with lots of other fun kitchen items, ranging from fridge magnets that mimic iPhone ap buttons to dachshund salt and pepper shakers. (Warning, the site also features an array of gag gifts that might be rated PG-13 or so.)

From foodiggity.com we found these cool little guys. These would be great for the party of a kid who is into martial arts, or to serve for an open house at a martial arts school, or just to offer up something a little different that's sure to catch attention. Ninjabread men!

You might not think a can-opener is anything to get excited about, but I have to tell you, I was really excited when I saw this one. We had one just like it growing up, and every time we moved, my mother took it down and brought it with us to be installed in the new kitchen. Most of the things we had were inexpensive and not fancy at all, but this top of the line can-opener was worth it's weight in gold. If you've ever struggled with a difficult can-opener, you can appreciate how useful one that punches through the lid and holds it securely, and opens it on the first try, with an effortlessly turned crank is. When wall-mounted, it isn't much good on the huge 8-pound cans, but for anything smaller it's the best there is. We found this at The Vermont Country Store, and it is DEFINITELY going on my list ... I've been looking for one like this for years!


Oh, and one more item from FunSlurp we wanted to mention, just for the Savvy Shopper aspect ... Cool Beans Ice Cubes. Instead of wasting leftover coffee, pour it into these CoolBeans ice trays and make coffee-bean shaped frozen coffee, and later you can enjoy an iced java that rivals one of the expensive coffee-shop offerings, cooled with ice that won't water down your coffee. This one ranks as Savvy!

We're baaaaccckkkk!!!!

Welcome back to the new Savvy Shopper!

We're back at our post (pun intended), looking for unique gifts, giving our recommendations for quality products (and warning about the duds), looking for ways to save you money on everything from gifts, to clothing, to internet service, to groceries, along with everything else you buy. Shopping online, and shopping in stores, we're there to help you. Please feel free to send comments and questions if you have any tips, and we're happy to check them out and pass them on. If you have questions, by all means ask, and we'll do our best to answer them, or find the answer for you.

We hope to have something for everyone here, so welcome back!!!

Product comparison website

We have a great new shopping comparison website to share with our readers. Mpire's front page says that they are "all the best shopping sites rolled into one" including eBay, Amazon, Target, Best Buy, Overstock.com, NewEgg, Circuit City, and many more. After looking around on the site for a little while, we have to agree.

The navigation at first returned too many results, and not always exactly the ones I was looking for, but after checking the site's organization, which is really pretty straightforward, I was able to return some really great results.


Checking for some of my favorite kitchen finds, I found a Nordic Ware universal see through cover. And when I clicked through on the "best price" link, which was listed at $23.95, I found that the listed merchant, Chefs Corner, actually sells the lid for only $15.00. So if you visit the site, definitely visit the products you are interested in even if you want them for less.

Even so, you may think $15 is a lot for a lid. However, I have found that our similar lid has been a great help in the kitchen, because I can easily cover pans from 8" to 12" ... just grabbing one lid is handy, so you don't have to keep a dozen of them accessible. Also, if you lose one, or have pans that didn't come with lids, this one fits the bill. I love the see-through lids so that I can keep a close watch on more delicate foods that need special care not to overcook. All things considered, this product is a money, time, and space saver that also helps me prepare better meals, and as such it's a very worthwhile purchase and a good value, even at retail.

Unfortunately, there were no current eBay auctions for this item, but a great feature of the shopping website is that you can click on a tab and view eBay listings for whatever you searched for, along with retail offers.

Another feature of this site I really like was the ability to search in so many ways. You can search for a keyword, by price range, brand, store, and other criteria, depending on what category you are searching. I really love the overall organization. I stayed to look at kitchen items, selected cookware, for types of cookware I chose casseroles, and then further narrowed the search by material and selected ceramic. I got 14 pages of results for ceramic casserole dishes, which I could sort by popularity, price, or even the store I wanted to buy them from.

Speaking of ceramic dishes, I really like stoneware/ceramic/terra cotta pans for the oven, because I don't have to worry about anything affecting the food, they distribute heat evenly, and they are easy to clean. They last forever (if you don't drop them!) and are usually attractive enough to cook and serve in the same dish, allowing for easier cleanup (and retaining the heat at table better). On this website, I found many very nice baking and roasting pans for more than 50% off. Roasting pans with lids, especially deep lids, sometimes do double duty, if the lid is designed to function as a shallow pan on its own. I have one I really love that is a deep bowl-shaped casserole, and the lid can also be used as a pie plate. It's pretty enough to be a covered serving dish as well, so it gives me 3 different uses in one, which makes it a great value.

These are some of my favorite kitchen products, and I am happy to say this this website does a great job of helping me find these as well as products in just about any category imaginable. We can definitely recommend this site to savvy shoppers!

Fashion Jewelry & Accessories - Great prices!

I love to bring unique products to my readers -- those are my favorite posts, although I like to save you money too! So when I can do both at the same time, it's really a pleasure to feature products like these on my blog.

I found site that offers really cutting-edge fashion jewelry for great prices. These would make great gifts, or can complement your own look ... at these prices you can buy a variety to accent your style.




I especially loved these thread earrings. The round ones remind me of conchos, and would be PERFECT for anyone who likes western wear, while the tear-drop shaped ones look like peacock feathers, but peacocks were never arrayed in such a rainbow of various colors! These are large enough to make a statement, but the airy open weave makes them light. Being woven of thread gives the designer opportunity to make them in any color, and it also makes them perfect to accent casual wear, such as blue jeans. At the same time, the intricacy lends them to dressy wear, so these are super-versatile, which makes them all the better a value. If you're like me (I really enjoy making things myself!) you might be tempted to try to copy the designs, but I have to be honest with you, the low cost of these earrings would definitely discourage me from trying. I'd be a lot better off to spend those hours earning more money, and just buying extra pairs and still having more $$ to show for it, along with more color choices, in the end.

The variety of headbands offered on this site was fantastic too. Some of the skinny headbands caught my eye, but my hair is too thick to wear these. I loved the designs though! The silk scarf headbands were really intriguing too. I wish the site had pictures of them being worn in the different ways they describe (with hair in a ponytail or down) but I think I can visualize how the piece goes on. It's a clever idea. And if you love retro, these retro headband designs are a MUST-have! The fashion headbands are probably some of the best choices for overall wardrobe use, with the classic plaids and solid colors, and are some of the more affordable choices.



The prices are already reasonable, and some pieces are an especially outstanding value, but there are other ways to save money on this jewelry. You can buy wholesale fashion jewelry from the site, or sign up for coupons at the bottom of their page. You can also host a jewelry party and earn money, or even a virtual jewelry party among your email friends. However you like to shop and save, this site has lots of options!










I know there are a lot of pictures here, but I just wanted to show two more of my favorites from the site!

Clearance savings!

We wanted to share a great discovery of this year's discounts with our readers. Fewer and fewer stores have good clearance discounts at the end of the year, but Kohl's is one that still does, and we LOVE the prices!

Kohl's has good quality brands to begin with, and can be a little pricey to start. But their end-of-year discounts are mostly in the 70% to 90% off range, making many of the clothes ridiculously inexpensive. You can buy very nice quality t-shirts, sweaters, skirts, slacks, and much more for less than you would expect for low-end merchandise at a discount store.

Right now is the time to take stock of your wardrobe, go in with an open mind, and especially consider things you will need throughout the year. It's a good time to stock up on t-shirts or other things you may wear often.

We purchased a number of very nice quality men's t-shirts for about $2 each, and a pair of Docker's slacks for $3.50. I also bought some blouses I absolutely loved for $2 to $6 each. My favorite was a long, thick, thirsty terry robe that is SOOOOO soft and warm for $9.

Other departments have similar sales as well. I now have that set of flannel sheets I've always wanted and I can now say that a high-quality set of flannel sheets are very welcoming, soft, and warm. I don't know when I've ever slept so comfortably. I also purchased new washcloths for my home, again very high quality with well-sewn edges and trimmed in alternating colors for less than I paid for the lowest-priced quantity package of "cheapie" ones at Wal-Mart. The Wal-mart cloths and all my old washcloths are now in the "cleaning rag" stack in the linen closet while the Kohl's cloths are pampering us in style.

And Kohl's also has a variety of incentives for extra savings. We don't do this often, because it's not a good idea from a personal finance standpoint to have too many credit cards, but this time we took advantage of the 10% savings as a reward for applying. By the way, Kohl's gives the 10% discount even if you fail to qualify for a card. I purchased almost $350 worth of clothing and home linens on that trip and spent about $40 total to pay for them. There were about a dozen shirts, a robe, two dozen washcloths, slacks, shorts, and more.

Speaking of a Kohl's credit card, if you apply for one, they also send you coupons to use in-store or online periodically. You can expect 10% or 15% off your total purchase and similar discounts. Kohl's also has an online site where the clearance sale is also going on. They offer various shipping discounts from time to time, which if you register online you will receive email notifications of these. So far I have seen windows of free shipping and 99 cent shipping. The great thing about ordering online (when you can take advantage of these shipping discounts) are the discount codes. The main disadvantage of shopping online is that their clearance section is almost cleared out, while the retail store near me still has many racks upon racks.

I ordered from the clearance section online, searched for coupon codes, and discovered one listed at a site for 15% off. (I found it at RetailMeNot.com) What surprised me is that Kohl's allowed it to be combined with the discount offered for using my credit card, which was ANOTHER 15%. Amazingly, you can purchase online (whether regular, sale price, or clearance merchandise) and get reduced shipping AND 30% off your total if you pay with a Kohl's credit card. Discounts like these are few and far between, so we wanted to share them as part of Savvy Shopper ... that's about as savvy as you can get!