Results may vary (or be shaggy)
Being as frugal as I am, at some point along the way I taught myself how to cut hair.
Oh, it’s not very hard, really. Watch a hairdresser do it a few times and you’ll be able to do it, too. I’m not talking super fancy cuts, or anything, but you can trim up a girl’s hair or do the standard “little boy haircut” pretty easily.
The money I save by cutting everyone’s hair at home (my kids’ and my husband’s) is… oh, you thought I was going to say “more money in the bank,” I bet, but in fact it’s “money I can then justify spending on my own hairdresser, because I’m brave but I’m not nuts, so I can’t very well cut my own hair.”
If you do haircuts at home and you have any Y chromosomes in your house, you need a good set of clippers. Right now this deluxe Wahl set is just $40.19, plus you get another $10 off with coupon code WAHLMAR8 through the end of April. Can you buy a set of clippers for $10? Sure. Should you be putting $10 clippers against your children’s heads? Only if you like it when they scream that you’re pulling their hair.
I have a set of Wahl clippers that have served me well for over a decade and are still going strong. You won’t regret it. (And I’m sure that my son has now decided to grow his hair long has nothing to do with all those years of buzz cuts….)
Get it for less at Scholastic
Whether you want books for the kids or are looking for that perfect thank-you gift for a teacher, The Scholastic Store‘s got you covered. Check out the Sale Section for the best savings, and also enjoy saving 20% through June 1st, 2008, with coupon code CCMOM08.
I’m a sucker for books. Must… look… away….
More summer fun in the dark
This is for anyone who missed out on the firefly lantern deal from earlier….
Check out this light-up kite from Deep Discount. Never flown a kite in the dark? Me either! But it sort of looks like fun!
Their price is $12.48 shipped; today only (April 28th, 2008), use coupon code 3FF15 to take another $3 off of that, making it just $9.48 shipped to your door. How much fun would that be on the beach at night this summer?
This year, make Mom Flip
It’s nearly Mother’s Day, folks. Mama wants a camcorder that fits in her purse.
You can buy the Flip Ultra Series 60-minute Camcorder from Amazon right now for $139.99, which—trust me—is a pretty great price for this tiny little powerhouse, but why would you do that when you could win one from me, instead?
Because you can. Win one, that is. I’m giving away a Flip to one lucky Want Not reader this week. Then you can give it to your mother or keep it for yourself if you’re a mother, or just do whatever you want with it regardless of your parenting status because, dude, it’ll be all yours.
Check out the Official Flip Site for more info, as well as this great blog entry comparing the Flip to a much fancier camcorder (hint: sometimes spending more money doesn’t make sense). And then come enter for your chance to win what is possibly the coolest prize I’ve ever given away here.
For your shot at winning the Flip Video Ultra (60-minute model) which I have sitting right here on my desk, leave a comment on this entry before 11:59 p.m. on Wednesday, April 30th, 2008. One comment per person, please! Winner to be determined by random drawing and the pitch of my husband’s wails as he protests that it’s not fair that I’m giving away a 60-minute Flip when the one we own is but a 30-minute Flip. (Okay, I may have to take time out from selecting the winner to play my teeny, tiny violin for him. Just sayin’.)
Go!
Pack light or pay through the nose
Before you take the skies, take everything you don’t need out of your suitcase.
The rising cost of gasoline has some of us considering flying over driving for our summer plans—find a fare deal and flying could be cheaper—but you’ll need to pay close attention to the new airline regulations about baggage.
A sobering overview can be found here at Mouse Print, and you can find out more (complete with links to individual airlines’ regulations) here.
I wish I had some great tip here about how to circumvent the restrictions or something. My husband joked, “You should find a deal on one of those Space Bag vacuums!” but the reality is that restrictions apply to not only the number of bags, but the weight (and dimensions) of them as well. The only advice I can give you is to pack light or buy plenty of these and vacation at home.
I’m dreaming of lazy summer evenings
Yes, I know you can just put ’em in a jar… but for $5 each I’m willing to splurge and let my kids go nuts when they open these Coleman firefly lanterns, anyway.
These are going to become synonymous with summer, ’round here. I may have to get one for me, too. You’re never too old for fireflies!
Nice price on Lord of the Rings (updated!)
Staring down the barrel of a long summer with the kids? If you have readers, consider doing what I do—as soon as school lets out, hand them a long series you’ve picked out for their summer reading enjoyment. Heh.
Right now you can get the Lord of the Rings Boxed Hardcover Set at Barnes and Noble for just $14.98, which is about $30 cheaper than I’ve seen it on sale anywhere else. It’d make a nice gift, too, but just imagine how long it would take your kid to read all three books.
Doesn’t that make you smile? Or is it just me?
[New! You can also use coupon code H8A9D3Y for 25% off to make it an even better deal!]
Saturday deals
Today I am off to do exciting things like look at flooring and help some friends move. Try not to be jealous of my glamorous life, y’all.
Here’s some deals to keep you busy:
It’s the triumphant return of the Overstock Weekender! All weekend long, take 7% off your entire order, plus ship it all for a buck through that there link. (Remember that Overstock coupons exclude media items, so this isn’t the way to stock up on DVDs. But other stuff, hey, go nuts.)
Through April 30th, 2008, take 70% off your order at Restaurant.com with coupon code GOURMET. That’s $25 worth of dining for a mere $3, so no more complaining you can’t afford a nice meal out. In fact, the next time we go out, you’re paying.
Ooooh, check it out: Right now you can take 10% off your entire order at The Company Store or Company Kids
with coupon code AFDSAVE10, or spend $50+ at Company Kids and get yourself a free art kit with coupon code ART3.
There’s a ton of stuff up to 50% off at Old Navy right now, including seasonal items you need (like swimwear). Don’t forget that they ship your entire order for $5, too.
Been thinking about air purifiers? Right now at Sharper Image, get free shipping + 50% off the second Ionic Breeze Purifier when you buy two.
Some exclusions apply, but this weekend you can take 40% off at Lane Bryant using coupon code 000403870.
And last but not least, for a limited time you can get 10% cash back at CompUSA when you pay via Paypal, plus did you know that they have a special place to find their deals of the week
? Well, now you do.
And now, I’m off. Happy shopping!
Go Amazon, it’s your Friday
Oh, Friday. How you tease me with your promises of not having to get up at the crack of dawn the next morning. All day long I’ll be dreaming of sleep, glorious sleep. And then tomorrow the children will wake me up at 6, ruining this little fantasy of mine. But for now, at least we have the Amazon Friday Sale.
(Don’t click the following link if you have sensitive eyes.) If your man is named Bobo, I have the underwear for him. Yeesh.
Here’s some Jansport backpacks on varying degrees of sale—the white polka dot one (which is so cute) is only $15.99!
Mama wants a KitchenAid (for $165).
If you have Seasonal Affective Disorder, right about now is probably when you’re emerging from the fog and vowing to forget about it until next year. This is the time to buy a full-spectrum light if you need one, because this is when they’re on sale. I cannot endorse the Apollo Health GoLite strongly enough; it’s small and lightweight but packs a big punch in terms of output. (Also, the blue is very soothing. My last light was plain white and it was very hard on the eyes.) This is the lowest I’ve seen it priced in about a year, so if you’re considering one, now’s the time.
This is the coolest spice rack ever, and while it’s not hugely discounted, it is part of the 4-for-3 promotion. Just in case you… ummm… have a lot of spices.
Something about the name of the LightWedge doesn’t strike me quite right (I think it’s too reminiscent of “wedgie,” perhaps), but the product itself is very cool, and would be a great gift for an avid reader.
This is from a previous Friday sale (and not exactly a cheap item, though this is a good deal), but I just want to point out this Philips digital picture frame as pretty much the perfect Mother’s Day or wedding gift, assuming you’re loaded or you have multiple people going in on a gift together. Not only does Philips make some of the most highly-rated digital frames out there, the actual frame part of this one is pretty (which is rare). Just sayin’.
Have a great Friday, everyone!
Fashion Bug, again
Through April 27th, 2008, it’s Buy One, Get Another for $1 time at Fashion Bug. This is a great time to stock up on basics, plus don’t forget that they carry girls’ clothes, too!
Make it better with a coupon:
776213902 for 50% off your highest-priced item.
776205502 for 25% off your entire order.
776205700 for free shipping on $75+.
(Should the end of the world ever come down to who has the most Fashion Bug tank tops, I’m in good shape.)











