Shopping Tips Online

Check out this article on CNN Money about some pre-holiday deals at Wal-Mart. The mega-giant hasn’t been performing very well lately, so the word is that they are trying to boost sales before the holiday by rolling out some deep discounts as early as this coming Sunday. The $398 Compaq Presario laptop would be a great deal, but the article says that they are limited to 15 per store, and 1 per customer. So, good luck!

Holiday Shopping, Christmas Shoppipng, Bargains, Wal-Mart, Deals, Compaq, Presario, Laptop, CNN

Retailers are on to something with this neat trick – Trick or Treating at the mall. We have an outdoor mall in our city that offers this, and it’s a safe way to let the kids have fun while you get to do a little shopping. Check out the article in the New York Times.

How many of you have this in your town, and do you plan on taking the kids?

Halloween, Trick or Treat, Shopping, Kids, Mall, Mall Trick or Treating, Safe Trick or Treating

The holidays are fast approaching, and already I’m starting to sweat the expense. But, I ran across this great article on how to prevent post-holiday bills blues. There are some really good ideas here. Check it out!

Household Expenses, Holiday Bills, Paying Bills, Holiday Spending, Budget, Debt, Christmas Shopping, Gift Buying

D. Lawless Hardware is my best kept secret for kitchen cabinet or furniture pulls, knobs or other hardware. They have all the popular kitchen hardware styles, and the prices are better than any place I have checked. They also have some unusual things – good for white elephants or fun stocking stuffers.

Check out my best kept secret – D. Lawless Hardware.

Shopping, Cabinet Hardware, Kitchen Cabinets, Kitchen Knobs, Remodeling, Redecorating

Well, it must be like this!

Tracey, over at Shoe Boxers got some inside information about a great new online shoe store called Piperlime, which is affiliated with Gap, Inc.

You know me, shopping is all about the experience, and this one was great. I loved the site itself – it gives you several ways to search for the perfect pair, and it looks just heavenly. I haven’t ordered from the site yet, but it’s a matter of time! Fly on over and check it out!

Shoes, Shopping, Gap, Banana Republic, Old Navy

I was recently browsing through the “Fall Lookbook” at Style Bakery to see what they are predicting for this year. It’s a good resource for ideas, which I take with me when I am out and about shopping. A thought crossed my mind recently that many of the new styles might be found in untraditional places. So here are three items I found that fit the trends, from two websites you may not think to check out.

Sweaters are in, in every shape and size, and so are menswear tweed textures. So, check out this sweater coat at, of all places, Cabela’s®, “The World’s Foremost Outfitter.” The Snowy Lodge Sweater Coat retails for $69.95.

From the same outfitter, check out these flat heeled boots, which are oh-so-in this year. They are Rockport Merrick Boots, retail price, $149.99

Then, hop over to Campmor, another outfitters catering to sports and camping enthusiasts. Who knew you could find these very cool Prana 70s Cords? They retail for $65.

Put these three together, with maybe a more feminine blouse than is shown here, and you’d be stylin’ for fall. And, check out some of the “wrong” places where you might just find styles you will love.

Shopping, Styles, Trends, Sweaters, Boots, Cords, Pants, Style

Here’s a spooky thought. I’ll bet I can think of something that you could purchase from just about any store that could be used as part of a Halloween costume. Obviously clothing stores and thrift shops are full of things that you could use for a costume, and craft and sewing stores, too. I’m talking the last place you’d go intentionally to find a costume.

Here are five unusual stores, what you could get there and a costume you might use the item for:

• Hardware store – Chain and locks for Marley’s ghost costume

• Shipping services store – Bubble wrap for a Handle Me with Care costume

• Stationery store – Wrapping paper and oversized bow for a God’s Gift to Women/Men costume (don’t forget the gift card, “From: God; To: Women/Men”)

• Medical supply store – Neck brace and sling for a klutzy ballerina costume

• Auto parts store – A pair of windshield wipers and lots of pine tree air fresheners for your Rain Forest costume

Okay, they might be a stretch, but think about it. If you put your mind to it, you can think of a creative way to use anything, from just about any store, for your Halloween costume this year! Don’t be scared to try it!

Halloween, Costumes, Cheap, Creative Costumes, Homemade Costumes, Halloween Costumes, Trick or Treat, Adult Costumes

How can you not love a store where you can get a tiny tin of hand cream, a ceramic monkey bowl and a tea strainer ALL for about six bucks? This is my best-kept secret for all things fun and Asian – Pearl River.

This is the greatest place to go for inexpensive little gifts and stocking stuffers. This year I am thinking tiny, satin embroidered cosmetic bags ($3.50) for my nieces and some funny printed journals (they’re $2.95!) for my girlfriends.

Check out the soaps, powders and other cosmetics – the packaging is so great you won’t want to put them away. And the prices are all just crazy-low. Keep this one a secret (or don’t!), and have fun at Pearl River!

Shopping, Gifts, Fun, Asian, Stocking Stuffers

You know the old adage: the worst time to go grocery shopping is when you’re hungry. I don’t know about you, but I have been grocery shopping hungry – everything looks good and I ended up shopping way off the list.

This philosophy is born from the same place. If you shop when you’re angry, the outcome is usually negative.

Here was my experience when I’ve gone shopping angry:

• Everything was agonizingly slow. Clerks were slow, lines were slow, traffic was slow. Instead of slowing myself down, I just got more angry and frustrated.
• Everything looked like something I “needed.” Even the ridiculous blue shearling coat with pink and green beading and faux fur lining (I’m not making that up).
• Everything looked like something I “deserved.” That’s when the price started looking reasonable even when it wasn’t.
• Nothing was as good when I got it home as it was in the store.

So, I have learned (over and over) not to shop when I’m angry. Shopping, while it can be therapeutic at times, doesn’t make the source of the anger disappear.

I’m interested in stories of times when you may have shopped while angry – or depressed or happy – and how mood affects the outcome of the trip! Feel free to share!

Shopping, Moods, Therapy, Advice

Don’t think, just go! La Redoute has a free gift with any purchase – but you’d better hurry, because the promotion ends Friday, 10/20. I snagged some two-for-one long sleeve tees (two tees for $7.99!) and an appliqued sweater (clearance priced at $12.99). The freebie is a sweet little suede crescent bag. It’s a must have!

Shopping, Fashion, Bargains, Free, Gift

This may sound like something your mother used to tell you. And if so, I apologize. But, she was right. Buying for the sake of buying ends up being wasteful and unsatisfying in a number of ways.

In this new series, we’ll explore my philosophies of shopping. They may not be yours, and that’s okay. Just know this: My goal is always to save you money, and make your shopping experiences more satisfying.

Here is the scenario. There on the clearance rack is a certain sweater that catches my eye. It could be because it’s 80% off regular price – seems like too good a deal to pass up. Or it “spoke” to me – there’s just something about it I like.

So, I grab it up and wander the store, asking myself “when/where would I wear this?” Then I make the mistake. I buy it just to buy it. And the sweater that was such a good deal ends up in the box going to Goodwill. The same applies to household items. Not only does it frustrate me to know I spent money on something I have no use for, but it reminds me of a frustrating shopping experience. And I hate that.

I developed a shopping philosophy called “buying for the sake of buying should be avoided.” Here are the two key things you have to tell yourself.

1. Even if it’s a killer bargain, it’s a waste of money unless you can use it.
2. This is not the last item for sale on the planet. Be reasonable.

I’d love to hear your own examples of what/where/how you may have fallen victim to “buying for the sake of buying.” And look for more on Shopping Philosophy 101!

Shopping, Bargains, Spending, Advice

If your taste tends toward the quirky, and the new mommy and daddy are more fun-loving than traditional, ditch the cutesy bunny-and-puppy bib and go for something from The Retro Baby. They have a wide variety of fun and funny baby gifts (and some that I would steer clear of unless you know the parents pretty well).

I chose the “One Love” onesie for our friends’ new daughter Zoe. She’s personality plus, and so is the outfit!

Babies, Gifts, Onsies, Shopping

Bob is a polo guy. Always has been. But finding a good value in a polo is tough. Many polos, even good name brands, end up looking sad after about a thousand trips through the washer. The collars get funky or the fabric gets pilly. So your guy ends up looking single. Not good.

The L.L.Bean® Double L® Polo is simply the best value in a polo shirt. Starting at $17.50, these polos are everything the company claims. They are designed as well as the high-dollar polos, and the fabric is wonderfully soft and drapes well. They come out of the wash perfectly, so not only does Bob not look like a single guy, I look like the perfect wife!

The Best Polo. L.L. Bean. Give them a try.

LLBean, Polo, Shirts, Mens, Bargains

By the time you’re my age, you’ve tried just about every kind of makeup ever invented. Creams, liquids, powders, liquids that turn into powder, powders that are creamy and just about every other variable there is. I am still willing to try something new, so when the mineral makeups became the rage, I finally broke down and gave it a try. I do love the way the powdery stuff gives enough coverage, but don’t settle into my (eek!!) wrinkles like a normal powder does.

Bare Escentualsâ„¢ retails for $25 at Ulta.

Ulta’s mineral makeup is regularly $14.99, on sale now for $9.99.

In this high price vs. low price challenge, I tried both. I started with the “big name” brand, believing it’d be best. I liked everything about this makeup. But, when it came time to part with another $25, I was lured by the lower price. There were fewer colors offered in Ulta’s mineral makeup line, but I found one that was very close to the Bare Minerals I had been using. I notice no real difference in application, coverage or appearance. It works for me. (While it’s on sale, I may have to snag another one!)

Low price wins again! If you have tried either or both, I’d love to hear how they worked for you!

Mineral Makeup, Ulta, Makeup, Minerals, Bare Escentuals

Some things are worth the money. A good leather bag, a nice pair of boots, and diamonds – if you skimp on these, it shows. But on some things, like these layering tees, I don’t think the increase in price is worth it.
First look at the J.Crew® tee for $22.50. It is 100% cotton, and comes in plenty of colors.

Then, check out the tee from JCPenney®. It’s also 100% cotton and comes in several colors. It’s $9.99.

I personally went for the JCPenney tee. I have worn it under a short sleeve graphic tee with jeans, and under a sweater as a base layer. It is close fitting, so it doesn’t add bulk, and there is a nice sleeve detail I appreciate.

The J.Crew tee is most certainly made of a finer gauge cotton, and may last longer. But, I don’t look at any piece like this as any kind of “investment” item. It’s a tee. And with the $12.50 I saved I can buy another $9.99 tee and have enough left over for a nice brevé.

Look for more low price vs. high price ideas. The low price doesn’t always win! But in the case of these tees, it did!

Tee, T-Shirt, JCrew, JCPenney, Cotton Tees, Shopping