Sign up, get codes
Have you seen the new Google Checkout? It’s a service like Paypal or Yahoo! Wallet, where you input a payment source to their secure server and then—at participating online merchants—you can select Google Checkout and go through an abbreviated process for payment.
It may turn out to be a handy thing to have, and when you sign up there are tons of codes for $10 off $20 at various merchants. Like Starbucks. Or Jockey. Or eCost. Just lots of places. Go check it out.
(Thanks, Brenda!!)
Mixed blessings
Have you ever found yourself shopping at Amazon and there’s something you really kind of want, but just can’t afford or shouldn’t spend the money on, right now?
Put it in your cart and then “save for later.” The next time you go to Amazon to browse, be sure to check your cart. It will automatically alert you to any price drop on the item(s) you have saved. Like, say, those adorable Clarks sandals which were 50% off before but are now 70% off. And then maybe you’ll recall the special $20 off of $80 on shoes special they’re running, and before you know it, your head is in your hands.
Brilliant. Dangerous. The shoes, they make weaklings of the best of us (but what a deal).
All about the bling
I have to say that I love this question because this is one of those issues I could talk about forever. (Yeah, I know I can talk about almost anything forever, but this is different.) It’s just—well, you’ll see.
Hi,
You are pretty. Your site is seriously brilliant and very helpful. I thought twice about purchasing toilet bowl cleaner at wal-mart today, your words were in the back of my mind. I totally breezed by the batteries that were like 4AA for 5 bucks! I thank you for that.
OK, here is my non-general finance question, forgive me:
Engagement ring? A good friend desperately wantes to marry his wonderful gal, but is totally tight on cash. I worry he’ll end up with something she will be less than thrilled with due to cost. (not that she’s greedy, totally not) Do you have any experience with jewelry?
Thanks!
Mandy
Ahhhh, engagement rings. If there’s another issue that causes men to gnash their teeth and women to weep the way this does, I can’t think of it. Just let me put on my asbsestos suit, here…. read more…
Did you know it’s O-Day?
I was so excited to discover that today, Thursday, June 29th, is O-Day! But then I found out that it wasn’t what I thought it was, and I was disappointed.
(Nevermind what I thought it was….)
Anyway, it’s still pretty good, I guess. 15% off at Overstock all day long! If you’ve been putting off a larger purchase, now would be a good time to bop on over there and pick it up.
If you can’t decide, just pick up a little something for me. I’m not picky.
Never pay for a magazine
I like magazines. Do you like magazines?
I like to stack them up in my bathroom, and then when I run in there to hide from the bickering, I can read all about Valentine’s Day crafts I could’ve made with my kids back in February if only I’d had time to read my magazine back then.
Very few magazines actually make a profit on subscriptions. Most make their money off of advertising alone. In fact, magazines are able to charge more for advertising the greater their subscribership… and that means they will often give away free subscriptions because it boosts their profits in the long run.
Get a free year-long subscription to Alternative Medicine and know that your other favorites will probably show up on free offers, too. And then? Never pay for a magazine again.
If you have kids, you’ll probably never have time to read them, anyway. Less guilt, this way.
Ink for less
Fire up your printers, darlings! Anita writes:
Dear Mir,
Thank you for your new blog and for being pretty.
I assume there’s a better way than paying $25 for an ink jet cartridge at Staples? Can you enlighten me as to what that way is? I assume there must be generic ink jet cartridges out there that are comparable in quality to the name brands?
Thank you!
I’m not sure that anyone’s ever thanked me for being pretty, before. I like it. I like it way more than the cost of ink cartridges, if you must know. Then again… I like liver more than I like the cost of ink cartridges.
Remember back when we had those dot-matrix printers that took the gigantic striped paper with the holes all along the sides? No? Did you just call me old? Hmph. You kids today, I tell you what. Why, back in my day—
Huh? Oh! Right! Ink cartridges! read more…
Christmas all year long
Lovely reader Julia wrote to me about those paint-your-own-pottery places; specifically, how her kids love them but how many ceramic ducks does one family need? But she’s found a great solution:
Start letting your children paint their Christmas presents now. The first time you go to a PYOP store, let them make something for themselves. Get that out of the way, otherwise you’ll be hearing constant whining. Then let them start making Christmas. Make your list, make your budget. Stick to it.
She’s pretty, that Julia! Not only does it keep the kids happy and keep the clutter down, it eliminates some of the “oh my gosh it’s December 10th and we have so much to do” panic.
I’ll add my own tip: I often buy holiday-themed make-your-own ornaments or photo frame kits on Christmas clearance, then let the kids whip up masterpieces for teachers and relatives. They’re just as happy to do it in July as December, and I score a twofer with the cheap supplies and homemade touch.
And when you start early, there’s never a need to say “You will sit down and you will finish that ornament and it will be pretty and you will like it.” Not that I’ve ever done that. Stop looking at me.
Smells like free
Get a free perfume sample from Solodia. Choose from Deep Vanilla, Rich Cinnamon, Springtime Folly or Romantic Evening.
Cinnamon perfume? Ummmm… okay. I know I’ve been out of the dating pool for a while, but “Oh, baby, you smell so good… just like Big Red” just isn’t the sort of thing I remember….
Also? All of their scents are unisex. Because nothing is manlier than a guy who smells like Springtime Folly!
Cool women, good deals
Alert reader Dollymama was pretty enough to let me know that she’s having a “What’s Cool” week over at her blog. She’ll be featuring different women-run businesses and special deals offered especially for her readers.
Check out today’s deal on custom candy wrappers:
Lori makes customized items for all sorts of things.
[…]
Lori is offering a wonderful and very generous promotion for you folks. She is willing to give you 30 FREE mini candy bar wrappers with FREE shipping! There’s no catch!
My daughter has gotten this sort of thing in party favor bags, before, and they really are adorable. That’s not even mentioning that free is my very favorite price.
So go read all about it, get your freebie, and then keep checking out Dollymama all this week for more great stuff!
. . . and then you can buy more shoes
Jean wrote… well, here’s what Jean wrote:
Mir,
I love this site! I can’t wait to see what tips you give us each day. The only way the site would be better is if we could see your pretty face every day! Here’s my question for you…I just purchased my first home with my husband. My income is the only once since my husband is a SAHD (we have a 2 year old). What are some of the best ways to cut down on our oil costs (used for heat/hot water) and our propane (used for stove/dryer) and our electric expenses? Thanks!
Jean
We will forgive Jean her obvious poor taste in wanting to see my terrifying mug each day (I would, you know, but on a bad skin day y’all might lose the will to shop), and try to sink our teeth into the matter of cutting down on energy costs. Just give me a second to finish weeping over my latest oil bill. Okay! read more…
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