Vacation sans bankruptcy
The always-lovely Sheryl from Paper Napkin writes:
Okay Mir, I have a question for you. Everyone is planning their summer vacation, where are the best places online to hunt for tickets and hotels, and how do you find some good bargains to make the most of your vacation money?
There’s nothing like a question with about seven billion different answers to start off the day! Well. I’ve got my cup of coffee, and hopefully you have yours (and about an hour). Also, I’m going to have to upgrade the usual advice-giving shaker-of-salt to a 10-pound sack of salt on this one: My idea of a vacation is driving back to my hometown and mooching off of my parents for a few days. I’m pretty sure they’re not accepting random guests, though, so let’s look at some other options for the rest of you. read more…
testing
Woohoo, y’all liked it here so much, you broke the site… have some patience today, please. A few things are wonky and I swear it’s being worked on. In the meantime… uhhh… you might not want to click on anything.
Site is working again. Phew! Sorry about that!
Get some gadgets
Maybe you’re still looking for something for Father’s Day, or maybe (like me) you’re always on the lookout for stocking stuffers (yes, I know it’s June) and “emergency” gifts to keep in your stash.
Check it out: Circuit City has a ton of gadgets marked down in their Outlet. Free shipping on $25+, always free to pick up at your local store.
Because nothing says “I love you” like a nose hair trimmer. (Okay; that’s a lie. This or this may be a better choice. But if he’s got a lot of nose hair? Just keep the gift of grooming in mind.)
All kinds of wrong
Beyond ring-around-the-collar
How cliche and stupid is it for women to sit around and talk about laundry? I know. I feel dirty, even now, bringing it up. But part of the reason we tend to talk about it is because if we have children, we have laundry. No, wait: We have LAUNDRY. We have laundry spilling out of our hampers and weaving a maze throughout the house and hanging from the furniture and no matter how often you do laundry, you still always have laundry.
Stupid laundry.
I’ve heard women who say that they find laundry relaxing, and in the spirit of acceptance and tolerance I’d like to suggest that they are on CRACK. And they have clearly never snipped the tags off of a new outfit in the morning and sent it to school on an angel-faced cherub who arrived home after body-surfing through grass and mud, not to mention what will later only be referred to in hushed tones as “the ketchup incident.”
So. How do you get the laundry clean without becoming a slave to the most expensive detergents on the market? read more…
Sunblock deal
Ready to stock up on sunblock, after-sun product, and self-tanners for Summer? Amazon is currently offering $10 off your $25 purchase of Banana Boat products. Use code BANANABO, and don’t forget to select “Super Saver Shipping” on the checkout page (it’s not the default, because Amazon is silly like that). You’ll still receive free shipping as long as your pre-coupon total is $25 or more. Offer expires June 30th.
Please note: I reserve the right to point and laugh if you buy their self-tanner. Friends don’t let friends turn orange.
If you don’t ask, you don’t get
Haggling—it’s not just for flea markets.
Don’t be afraid to ask for a discount on an item at a regular store, even if it’s already on sale. (In fact, I’d argue that’s the best time, and you’ll see why in a second.) Your typical department store expects to lose a certain percentage of inventory to damage. When a shirt loses a button or a box gets smushed, the item is put on clearance. Either it sells or is eventually sent to salvage.
Don’t be a jerk about it, and don’t act all affronted or entitled. Just ask. If you’ve found something that’s the last of its kind (this doesn’t work if there are more, because the manager will just tell you to get another if it bothers you) and is dirty or dinged, take it to customer service and ask for a discount. I find that “Hi, I’d like to buy this, but I was wondering if you could mark it down a little more because of the [insert flaw here]?” works almost all the time, with a savings of at least 10% (and once as much as 50%). I’ve done it at Goodwill and I’ve done it at Macy’s.
Any small embarrassment you might feel would likely be assuaged by the resultant lower pricetag. I do recommend holding off on the victory dance until you’re out of the store, though.
10% off at Overstock
As if things weren’t cheap enough at Overstock… you have until June 30th to take 10% off your entire order.
As always, shipping is just $2.95 no matter how much you buy—although this weekend, furniture ships for free. Maybe Dad is hoping for a new recliner for Father’s Day…?
Note to my own Dad: Um. Probably won’t be getting you one of those. But I’m sure you’d much rather have a card from the kids. Right? Dad…?
Plan ahead for back-to-school
I know… I know. For most of you, school just got out. Heck, in my part of the woods, we’re not done for another couple of weeks. I understand not wanting to think about the next school year yet. I do. But thinking ahead is what saves the bucks.
There are two philosophies on backpacks for your children. One philosophy says to buy a new, cheap bag every year, let them wear it out; lather, rinse, and repeat. Lord knows I have been buying cheapie backpacks during Target’s back-to-school clearance ever since my oldest was in diapers. At $5/pop, it’s not hard to justify.
The second philosophy is to buy quality and plan to use the same bag for many years. My friends, I’m beginning to see the light. This light, it tends to come on strongest when the crappy backpack’s zipper gives up the ghost three months before the school year ends, if you catch my drift.
If you purchase from a store like LL Bean or Lands’ End, your merchandise comes with an unconditional guarantee and helpful customer service that will soften the heart of even the most hardened shopping cynic. If the zipper breaks, they’ll fix it. If it gets a hole, they’ll replace it. If you say, “Hey, I think this is an unreasonable amount of wear on this bag even though you and I both know that my kid probably used the bag as a sled through a mudpuddle,” they’ll help you out. No questions asked. Worth the money, yes?
Even better is if you can snag one of those great products at a reduced price. They give you the warranty whether or not you pay full price, ya know! It’s the best of both worlds! LL Bean is having their Summer Sale, and many of their book packs are marked down, including a full 50% off their adorable Patch Pack. And you can use coupon code 2301100 for free shipping. (Note: If you have a Bean Visa, you always get free shipping and free monogramming, too. Also I’m pretty sure that when you go to the actual store, the customer service people make you a throne out of kayaks and rub your feet.)
Camping, anyone?
This is a great price (52% off) on a good sleeping bag, and it’s eligible for free Super Saver Shipping.
My kids are finally old enough, I think, for us to go camping this summer without me feeling an overwhelming urge to abandon them in the forest. For about $20/night we can go to an area park and have an adventure that includes roasted marshmallows. We’re all very excited (about the s’mores, anyway; we’ll see how they do when it’s time to sleep on the ground and wake up with the squirrels).
Did you know that Amazon has a sale every Friday
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