Savvy Shopper

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!

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We have an interesting site with all kinds of information, insights, and even humor relating to credit cards for our readers. Besides information on particular credit cards that you can apply for, along with all of the relevant information for each card and a ratings system for various credit card offers, there is a blog attached to the site with a lot of useful information.

Using your credit cards wisely and understanding the various types of credit cards are important focuses of the site, but every aspect associated with credit cards is also discussed. Some of the best information is available on blog entries with general credit card information.

For example, how does your spouse's credit card behavior affect your credit score? Can you just keep getting 0% cards and transferring the balances to avoid paying any interest? Is it a bad idea to keep backup credit cards that you never use? What about that little magnetic strip on the back of your credit card? How long should you wait to reapply if your application is turned down? Can you get credit if you just turned 18? How can you best use rewards features? What kinds of safety are built into your credit card? These and many other questions are answered on this informative and entertaining blog.

We're not going to spoil the answers for you, just click on the link above and visit for the answers to these questions as well as more mundane, but equally important ones, such as
how to increase your credit score, how to choose the best credit card for your personal situation, how to manage your debt wisely, how your credit score affects various financial aspects of your life, and more.

We hope this information proves helpful to our readers!

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You know how employee discounts work ... working in a particular store gives you a discount, often on anything you want to buy there. Some employers are even generous enough to offer things at cost (I'm fortunate that mine is!). Even better than saving money as an employee are the savings you can often get within your field. I've used this in the past as well. So ... one thing you might want to consider is how your interests might be able to do two things for you. The first is let you earn money doing what you love to do, and the second is to let you enjoy products and materials at cost, as well as do the professional work yourself and save those fees as well. For an example of what I mean, visit http://www.iadtchicago.edu/.

Courses offered include interior design. As an interior design graduate (if your interests lie here), you can do what a good friend of mine did. She bought an older home in the historical district and started working to restore it. She was able to support herself by freelance design jobs around town, stay home with her children, and restore and decorate a lovely historical home for a fraction of the cost someone else would have had to invest, and ended up with a very valuable home which she could sell, but instead she choses to live there because she loves having a comfortable, tastefully decorated home.

Fashion is another area that might be of shopping benefit to those who love clothing. Imagine having access to all the newest trends, at cost, as well as materials to design your own clothing and the know-how to do so. In the right market, your skills can produce a hefty income as well.

Advertising is another area listed, and one where I myself have had some advantages. If you are skilled at promoting products, the manufacturers are more than happy to provide you with samples so that you can evaluate their product and find the features or benefits of it in order to be able to share them more effectively with consumers.

Basically, wherever your passion lies, consider whether you might be interested in turning it into an income, and garner some rock-bottom prices for yourself at the same time.

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It's just about time in most places for a new semi-annual fundraiser coupon book to come out. We used to sigh resignedly when the children would knock on our door, asking us to buy one. We'd purchase it, place it in a drawer, tell ourselves we WOULD make use of it this time, and then promptly forget about it until next year, when we cleaned out the drawer and found the book of purchased, expired coupons lying there.

I want to tell you that, rather than being a charitable donation on your part, these books actually CAN be great to have. The real trick is in making sure you use the coupons. For us, that meant having them with us and accessible when we were out and needing to stop for a bite, so a couple of years ago I put the book in the glove compartment of the car instead of the desk drawer. Whenever we needed to stop for a quick bite, I'd pull out the book and say, "Let's see what we have a coupon for!"

The coupon book became a blessing instead of a waste of money. Most of the offers inside are buy-one-get-one-free, so you can instantly save almost 1/2 on your dining out. Another great aspect of the coupon book was in the variety of restaurants it introduced us to. Places I never would have thought to visit, some of which are now our favorites. Because we had a coupon, we tried the restaurant, and discovered new specialties we'd never heard of before.

Our version includes a lot of non-restaurant offers as well. This can be a lot of fun in planning family time together, or a fun and unusual date. Our book usually includes coupons to an IMAX film, a local museum, miniature golf, an arcade, go-karts, a dinosaur activity place, bowling, movies, and several other fun things to do. Most of these are half-price level savings.

Practical coupons are usually included as well ... oil change (and we all need one if we drive a car!), haircuts, car washes, carpet shampooing, new tires, film processing, and so on. These are usually a fair discount offer.

I just want to encourage everyone to rethink those coupon books. They've been so great for us that we've started selling them for our homeschool group, and now we always buy TWO books ourselves instead of just one, and buy extras for friends as well. Now that we've discovered the best way to use them, we are enjoying them AND saving a lot of money at the same time, and that's one of our main focuses here at Savvy Shopper!

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We'd like to feature another product that deserves a place on Savvy Shopper for its level of quality and craftsmanship along with its unique and stylish design ... Enclume pot racks. I've always loved the look of a polished overhead pot rack with shiny copper pots suspended below, on display and within easy reach, lending an aura of "gourmet chef" to the home kitchen. The Enclume potrack fills that need in high style and, more importantly, with high-quality, durable materials made to last a lifetime.



Rather than the typical style we normally see, which usually includes a hanging chain threaded through a relatively thin rim, Enclume pot racks are made by attaching supporting arms to the thick hammered forged steel rim, making this an heirloom quality piece to be treasured and passed down rather than one that will need replacing after some years. Our absolute favorite is the stylish Decor Lighted Oval Rack, although the "S" Grid Circle Rack also caught our attention as being THE pot rack for a more contemporary setting. There are also a number of designs that would be at home in a more rustic or traditional setting.



Eclume has other great products besides their pot racks. The one that really caught our attention was the Eclume Gourmet Center. This very unique design would stand out in any home but offers a lot of practical use beside the preparation area with the shelf for a cookbook, basket for produce, and another shelf handy for oils, spices, vinegars, or whatever suits your cooking style.

We really enjoyed browsing this website and were delighted to find the unique designs that would so perfectly suit so many different styles of kitchens.

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Savvy shoppers know that in certain things, you shouldn't always buy the least expensive (cheapest) item available. One of the most important areas where it saves money in the long run to purchase quality is when you are buying fixtures, furnishings, etc. for your home. Plumbing fixtures definitely fit into this category ... our constantly dribbling kitchen sink reminds me of that fact daily as it continues to worsen. It was inexpensive, but it is only two years old. If I have to buy a new one every couple of years, it's going to add up ... not to mention the time spent for replacing it each time. I haven't had the chance to replace it yet and I cringe at the thought of next month's water bill!

My own plumbing problems aside, fixtures that will be a part of your home for years to come are also an area where personal style comes into play in a big way. Even if you spend less, you just aren't going to be happy if you don't like the way it looks, and you're going to be reminded of that MANY times over the years you live in your home. When it comes to something you will be seeing every day, it pays (in terms of satisfaction) to take the time to find a design you really love.

A website like DesignerPlumbingOutlet.com is a great place to start your search for a quality fixture that will make your home distinctively you. Online sites can often offer you a much wider selection for browsing than you would be able to find at a local showroom. We loved the variety we found within their Moen showhouse. The bamboo collection would be lovely in an Asian-themed room, the Waterhill's absolutely charming pump-style look would be perfect in a more rustic home, the Destiny is wonderfully contemporary, and the lines of the Casa collection are very unique. The photo of Solace really wowed us, and I have to say that the pot filler faucets are an amazing innovation -- I WANT THAT!

I also found the by Devonshire faucets by Kohler to be exquisitely classic. These would be perfect for any luxury bath. The Moen aberdeen faucets were also quite interesting. The pulldown spout would be very handy, as would the single handle operation. The matching lotion or soap dispensers would also be practical and help keep the area clean under heavy usage (or in homes with children particularly).

Now I'm more motivated to take care of that drippy kitchen faucet than ever ... and while I'm at it, the bath shower toggle doesn't do a very good job either. Not only is browsing for home fixtures online a good way to see many options, but generally lower prices can be found online as well, even after adding in shipping charges. (In many cases, you don't have to pay sales tax for online purchases, so that can factor into overall cost as well.)

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In honor of Valentine's Day, this month we are featuring several romantic travel destinations. Another prime romantic getaway is the Emerald Isle, veiled among the mists of the Atlantic. Valentine's Day is the perfect time to feature dreamy destinations for honeymoons, anniversaries, romantic holidays and more, and today we want to focus on Ireland's misty and magical shores, picturesque countryside, and historical charm.



This fairytale land, site of many medieval movies, has something special to offer in its many historic castles. Not just vacant and cordoned-off visitor's sites, many of Ireland's castles have been restored to luxury and offer accommodations fit for a king and queen, with sumptuous rooms befitting royalty, picturesque estate grounds to wander, and attentive staff ready to serve. Imagine lady fair being swept off her feet by her dashing prince in the elegantly restored ballroom of a grand castle. Or exploring the spacious grounds and surrounding deep forests together astride fine mounts. All this and more help to make the Emerald Isle the perfect spot for couples seeking a relaxed, romantic holiday that allows time to delight in local charms rather than rushing about and standing in lines.


Many couples prefer to concentrate on western Ireland -- destinations such as Kerry, Mayo, Clare, and Galway are favorites. If you are seeking to visit the larger cities, consider Dublin, Belfast, Cork, Waterford, and Derry. Cork is especially convenient, being in the southern part of "the real Ireland."





If you are seeking to book Ireland hotels in these cities, be sure to check out last minute deals and year-round specials offered on Dublin hotels, Cork hotels, and Belfast hotels. While the last minute deals, especially, change over time, we have consistently found CheaperThanHotels to offer a wide variety of accommodations in many cities all over the world at some of the lowest prices available, while giving the traveler all of the information they need for each individual hotel to be able to decide which will meet their needs and preferences so as to book the most suitable accommodations.

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We recently talked about taking a trip together for Valentine's Day, or giving a trip as a Valentine's gift. We would like to follow up that post by offering a couple of suggestions for places to travel, along with savvy shopper's money-saving resources for your vacation.


France, particularly Paris, is the first destination that comes to mind when thinking of romantic trips, with good reason. The best time to visit is in the spring (May and June) or the fall (September and October) in order to avoid the hot summer, but winter vacations in France, while you will probably be walking in the rain, can be especially romantic! While visiting Paris, be sure to stroll along the Champs Elysees and window shop at the stylish boutiques. Visit the ones that pique your interest. Climb to the top of the Arc de Triomphe to enjoy the view. Come to the Eiffel tower an hour or so before sunset, and take the elevator to one of the observation platforms in order to watch the city's lights flash on in a panorama below. Another tip: if you want a view of Paris with the Eiffel Tower in your photo, visit the roof of the Samaritaine Department store. Take a scenic dinner river cruise on a glass boat. Visit the Rue Cler for a taste of a French market street, and be sure to sample some crepes or cheese there. Tour the Palace of Versailles, and be sure not to miss the Hall of Mirrors there! Paris is renowned for its museums, so if you want to see the most important collections, don't miss the Louvre, home of the Mona Lisa and Venus de Milo.


If you're keeping within a budget on your vacation to France, check the set-price meals -- "prix fixe" -- offered at local restaurants. For a set price you can enjoy a soup or salad, entree, and dessert. The small cafes and the sellers at the open-air markets also offer excellent food in most cases, and reasonable prices. Some market sellers will give out samples as well. And to save money on Paris hotels, check out the last minute deals as well as year-round specials. If you're traveling to other cities in France, (we recommend wine country for the traveling romantic), check here for France hotels. As far as entertainment, the Louvre is free on Sundays, as are a number of other museums. There are also quite a few that offer free admission every day. (See the list at the end of the post.) But just walking through Paris is quite entertaining, and to be enjoyed, all for free. However, one ticket probably more than worth buying ... a hot air balloon ride for around £8. Also remember that if you are not a European citizen, be sure to fill out the rebate forms to receive the 16% tax back on purchases.


A second European destination for romance has to be mentioned here. Germany’s world-famous tourist route, aptly named “The Romantic Road” runs over 350 kilometers across idyllic countryside and charmingly picturesque villages that retain their medieval charm, following the river Main and traveling through wine country, leading through the Alps and finally to the enchanting fairytale castles of King Ludwig. Traveling the Romantic Road will allow visitors to step back in time to experience medieval Europe, and many towns and villages have medieval festivals as well. This is one vacation where you want to take your time to savor the trip itself, and enjoy all the sights, sounds, and activities along the way. Whether traveling by automobile, bus, or cycling, Germany’s Romantic Road is the perfect route for travelers seeking to experience the Romance of Germany.


For saving money during your travels in Germany, look to small pubs that often offer hearty meals at reasonable prices. The Turkish restaurants and Italian bistros there are usually a good value as well. Try to find lodging that offers free breakfasts. Save on accommodations by considering hostels, bed-and-breakfasts, wineries or castles, or check out these specials on Germany hotels. (These deals are also available by city, such as Berlin hotels.) As in France, if you are a non-European, you can fill out a form for a rebate on the 16% tax for things you buy while in Germany.

Paris Museums with free admission
- Musée d’Art Moderne de la Ville de Paris
- Maison de Balzac
- Musée Bible et Terre Sainte
- Maison Bourdelle
- Musée Carnavalet - Histoire de Paris
- Musée Cernuschi
- Musée Cognacq-Jay
- Musée du Compagnonnage
- Musée Curie (Institut du radium)
- Musée Jean Moulin
- Musée du Parfum-Fragonard/Théâtre musée des Capucines-Fragonard
- Petit Palais, Musée des Beaux Arts de la Ville de Paris
- Musée de la Préfecture de Police
- Maison de Victor Hugo
- Musée de la Vie Romantique
- Musée Zadkine

(Note: the Louvre offers free admission only on Sundays)

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