June 2009 - Deal Gossip

The Zen of Swapping

Here's something you probably didn't know about Lulu Thrift. I teach yoga. It's a skill I have which doesn't make me much money, but gives me a lot in return.

Don't get me wrong: I like getting paid for what I do. But there's a warm fuzzy feeling that comes from helping people feel better about themselves that (almost) transcends the warm fuzzy feeling I have when I deposit a check into my bank account.

And while teaching yoga won't make me rich, having a skill I can share can pay off in other non-cash benefits too.

I have a fellow yogini pal who once told me you can "swap yoga for anything". She didn't mean ditch down dog for a gym workout, she meant literally swap yoga classes for other goods and services. It's a bit like the system of bartering in times before credit cards: the farmer in the village who used to trade his potatoes for having his roof thatched. Or something like that.

Anyway, back to this friend of mine. She used to teach a lawyer private one-on-one yoga classes in the lawyer's home. Her payment? Free legal counsel when she needed it. And thanks to the recession, it seems this ancient system has become popular all over again lately.

Another girlfriend had an even more stylish result on her adventure into exchanging goods and services. She made friends with the owner of a very swanky shoe store in the upscale DC neighborhood of Georgetown.

When the owner needed yoga instruction, my friend was only happy to provide it - in exchange for designer shoes. A one hour private yoga class with a good teacher can set you back anything from $50-$150, but since my friend was receiving in return a pair of kicks worth around $450 each time I reckon she came off the better out of the deal.

I am going to take this exchange philosophy even further and move it on to the next level. It's my belief that you can exchange just about anything. And in these tough economic times (oh how it pains me to keep writing that sentence) we could all use some no-cash gain, right?

If you have a skill or knowledge someone else can use, you can bet there's something you can gain in return for it that might benefit you. Maybe something even more valuable to you than the gift you are giving.

I'll give you another great example. Mr. Thrift and I share an accountant. Last year's tax return cost me only my insider knowledge of London. Our guy was off on vacation with his family and needed recommendations of places to stay and sights to visit. So I spent an evening working up a list of things to do in my hometown, and voila, no fee for 2008.

There's a pretty basic no fee site called barterbart where you can offer up your skills and request someone else's in return. Think of it like eBay for talent with no money involved. A recent search turned up a woman in Illinois who wanted to exchange her time sitting your pet for either an engine tune up for her Toyota or some Botox injections. Go where you want with that one. Another man was willing to build your Iowa deck in return for a used car for his daughter.

So think about what you know. Do you have insider info on a region or a language skill to share? Do you play an instrument or know sign language? Can you bake really well or have spare time to look after someone's elderly relative or small children? And in exchange, rather than seek cash, you might find there's something you can get in return that meets your needs even more at this time.

Strike up a conversation with the next person or group you meet and see if there isn't some mutual good you can do each other. It's free, it's good for you, good for them and great for the planet. I like to think of this as an exchange of energy, even love. But there you go, that's the crusty old yogi in me I suppose. Next I'll be knitting myself some yoghurt and wearing hemp.

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Deals on Summer's Hottest Trends

Is reading the latest fashion publication or magazine making you crave new summer looks? Do you aspire to dress like a starlet but cannot afford the clothes or stylist? Have you looked in your closet and realized that you truly don’t have anything to wear? If you said yes to any of the above, then pay attention to this post.

Now that its officially summer, many of your favorite stores(including chain and department stores) are cutting back their prices on spring/summer clothes to make room for the upcoming fall/winter clothes. That means big savings on my favorite trends including- floral dresses, cute empire camis, vintage wash jeans, and more. So take advantage and stock up on all you’re your summer essentials(bonus if you can find pieces that will carry you through fall). Right now is the time to shop for new summer trends for much less, and here are some sales to get you started.

Summer 2009 is the season of the dress, and one sale not to be missed is Express’s Shop The Box sale where you can save up to 60% percent on solid bright blouses, cute vests and jackets(perfect for pre-fall shopping), crisp sailor-esque pants, jeans, and so much more. A current trend to look for on sale? A comfy, yet nonetheless stylish jumpsuit, like the button-front jumpsuit(now $29.99). Remember to look for clothes you’ll actually want to wear during the lazy days of summer, because if you only plan to wear it once, what’s the use?

If you like Express’s sale, don’t miss Forever 21’s Sale where you’ll find extra savings on already affordable finds including tees, dresses, pajamas, leggings, accessories and shoes. I love the sleek blue satin dress(only 10.99), and the Shibuya Armor bunny tank. Hurry now, because this sale won’t last long with all the fab bargains.

Don’t miss the clearance at Guess. You can find a wide selection of swimwear, jeans, tees, shoes, bags, and much more. Some of the most stylish bargains include the fringe halter tank, brown breezy pants, and the cadet cargo pants.  I love how almost everything looks like it came straight out of a fashion magazine, and I love the savings even more…..

And while you’re looking to save on some fab new threads, you might want to save on undergarments and sleepwear for the summer. Bare Necessities is having their Semi-Annual Clearance Event with up to 50% off name brands like Betsey Johnson, Nautica, Le Mystere, Spanx, and more. What’s also on sale? Tees, tanks, and camisoles from my favorites including C & C California and Three Dots.

Remember to tell your friends about these terrific sales going on right now.

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Stylish Extras For Less

One of my favorite ways to save while adding major oomph to your wardrobe is shopping for accessories. Often cheaper, most accessories(including shoes, bags, and more) are not just wardrobe extenders, they can completely change the look your going for. Let’s say that you own a fabulous black sundress that you love to wear during warm summer days,  simply add some sexy sandals and a cute clutch, and you’re ready for that night out! Why not wear a cute shimmery tank with your jeans, and add on some metallic jewelry to take away the casualness of the jeans? What I’m saying is the possibilities are endless with the right accessories, and that you don’t need to buy a brand new wardrobe every season, a few new accessories will do. Now your next goal is to find great bargains on summer’s hottest accessories, don’t worry, its all in this post.

A great place to start your hunt for fab extras is Banana Republic’s Summer Sale. Right now the savings are up to 50% off handbags, jewelry, accessories, and clothes. You’ll find everything from trendy shoes to bright handbags, and bohemian luxe jewelry. Here’s a few things I’m craving from Banana Republic, I’m loving their large leather tote bags in bold colors, originally $90, and now they’re going for $69.99 and less(depending on the shade).  I also love the chunky beaded necklace (now $49.99, which is $10 less than the original price), as it is so simple and elegant all at once. The sale is both in store and online.

I don’t know about you, but I could wear cashmere year-round, and that is why I’m posting this wonderful sale from Amazon; cashmere pashmina  shawls for only $24.50(originally going for $118 and up). These shawls are perfectly versatile accessories as you can use them as a wrap or scarf, and they come in 55 different shades including mint, vanilla, and lilac. These glamour girl shawls are made with 70% cashmere pashmina and 30% silk- making them very luxurious minus the price.

Now lets save on another summer essential- sunglasses. 6PM is offering Soda Sunglasses Modus Operandi for only $54.63. These stylish sunglasses come in four color combinations(my favorite is the white/matte silver/grey metal) and they also provide 100% protection from both UVA/UVB rays. I also love the little logo design on the bridge.  But hurry up, because these  stylish sunglasses are selling out quick!

Want some brand new sandals?  Right now, you can save 25% off select Steve Madden summer sandals, boots, flats, etc(many already discounted so that is double the savings!) The selection is just fab, and I’m loving the bohemian design of  the tan colored leather Tapple wedges. I also love the bright fuschia patent leather Nicollet  heels, too. You'll have to check the selection out yourself as there are so many choices, so little time. Best of all, Steve Madden is offering free shipping of your entire order (for a limited time), just use code SMFREESHIP.

And if you cannot get enough of shoe sales, check out Payless Shoe Source’s Buy 1 Get 1 Half Off(BOGO) Everything. All your favorite shoes in different styles and colors- its all on sale now until June 29! Save on cute espadrilles(like pink plaid Sugar Slingbacks),  the Essence Mary Jane Sport Trackers, and much more, it will kind of make you feel a bit like a kid in a candy shop. So get shopping now!

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Fabulous Summer Sales

Hello, my name is Anna and I’m a new blogger for CheapToday.com. I am a self-professed fashionista,  but since I am a also a freelance writer, I have to live the life of a budgetista. How does that work for me? Pretty good. Since I am forever looking for fabulous clothes and accessories that look pretty similar to those stylish pieces that I see in the monthly glossy magazines, I usually head to the mall or surf the internet to find such affordably stylish pieces to build up my wardrobe.

Luckily it is relatively easy to find on-trend, stylish clothing and accessories since many stores actually cater to budgetistas like me, stores like Target (I love their Go International line) and Rampage. Fashion is never about what you wear, its about how you wear it.  And best of all I don’t feel guilty about spending a little money on trend clothes and accessories that I can chuck two seasons later.

And speaking of seasons, this is my favorite time of the year to shop as many of my favorite stores are selling spring and summer clothing on clearance. Now is the time to stock up on the items of the season including maxi dresses, cute jumpsuits(yes the 70’s staple is back!), and of course swimwear. Right now Victoria’s Secret  is having their Semi-Annual Sale- now you have no excuse not to buy the season’s best clothes when you can save up 60%. What else is on clearance?Fabulous footwear, indulgent beauty products, handbags, sleepwear and intimates. 

Another sale you don't want to miss is J. Jill's Just Between Us Sale which is offering plenty of markdowns on classic clothes and jewelry. Take advantage now and treat yourself to some comfortable summer clothes like linen blouses, cotton tees, and shift dresses that you'll wind up wearing until September. Bonus: click on the $9.99 and under link(which is below the shop by price) for some real savings on summer tanks and khaki pants! Talk about a true bargain......

Remember that no wardrobe is complete without cute shoes, and if you’re anything like me, you would like to find designer shoes at fabulous prices.  Famous Footwear is offering buy one, get a second pair of shoes ½ off, every shoe with no exclusions(and yes this includes footwear that is already marked down). Now you don't have to choose between summer wedges and purple Chinese Laundry heels, you can buy both!  And if that’s not enough, they’re also offering free ground shipping! I love free shipping.

As I’ve mentioned earlier, I’m a freelance writer, so you can pretty much know that I love to read. There is nothing better than bringing a really good read with you when you’re lounging by the swimming pool, and Borders is offering some fabulous mysteries and thriller books for under $10 that include intriguing novels by Patricia Cornwell and James Patterson. Another fabulous deal that excites the writer in us from Borders: buy 2 moleskine journals, and get a third free!  Remember that these offers are only available online.

But if you’re the type that would rather stay inside your air-conditioned home and watch movies, Walmart is offering 40% off the top 50 movies which includes recent releases such as Twilight and He’s Just Not That Into You. And while you're there you can pick up some microwave popcorn, candy, and soda and have a movie night at home.  I haven’t seen prices on entertainment items this good since last year’s Christmas sales! Might be wise to stock up early for holiday gifts...

Instead of heading to your local grocery or drugstore, why not take advantage of Drugstore.com's Get Ready For The Summer Sale? Save up to 50% on beauty products, skin care, diet products, vitamins, household items, and more. Drugstore's current promotion offers an array of unbeatable deals, but I really like the buy one, get one half off deals on my favorite cosmetic brands like Cover Girl and Loreal.

Save the gas this summer, and shop online today. I’m so loving these sales right now!

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Shoe Love - Part Three (or How To Look Like British Royalty)

So did you like the brownies? If you managed to keep chocolate off your new suede shoes in Part Two of this post, jolly well done and you deserve a treat. So pull up a plate of something yummy, put your Jimmy Choos up and sit back for Part Three of my series on how to get the best out of on line shoe shopping.

What did I do before I discovered Zappos? How did I used to buy shoes? I honestly can't remember. And my on-line shoe buying commitment/ addiction doesn't stop with Zappos. It's just they're the company who got me hooked on internet shoe shopping, and I haven't looked back since. But there's a host of other cool sites to buy your kicks from these days and new ones pop up every heartbeat. Honestly it's amazing to think I once balked at the idea of ordering shoes on line.

So what to look out for in a shoe shopping site? Four things:

1. An excellent range of brands, styles and sizes. If you can't easily find what you want fast the next three points are, well, pointless. All the sites I listed offer a dazzling selection.

2. Free shipping - and even more crucially - free returns. Frankly, if a site doesn't offer me free UPS shipping & returns I ping right out of it. No point paying to ship heavy shoes when you've no idea if they're going to fit. You want the option of easy exchanges on sizes or styles delivered to your door before you settle on the right pair.

3. A really long time to make up your mind about the shoes you've received. This time frame varies, accommodating the slightly picky (60 days @ shoes.com) through the troubled indecisive (90 days @ onlineshoes.com) to the serious procrastinator (a year, yes that's 365 days at Zappos). If you've been reading Lulu's posts long enough you'll know in which camp I pitch my tent and it starts with a zee and ends with an o.

4. Excellent communication, order tracking and follow up. Zappos set the gold standard for me with customer service and once that bar was shoved sky high I've held every other on line retailer up against it. Most come up short. But many on line adventures later I'm happy to say that in Lulu land, everyone out there seems to be stepping up their service to the stratospheric levels of Zappos. The cynics among you will recognize this has as much to do with the dodgy economy as philanthropy (that's being nice to people) but hell; I'll take what I can get.

My shoe finds:

Personally I love hearing other people's shopping stories, victorious or disastrous. So here are some of my on line shoe experiences. When you've read these, send me some of yours in the comments section!

1.    Buy out of season: My first ever Zappos purchase; Camper shearling boots reduced from $190 to $45 from Zappos in April. At the end of winter a bunch of warm boots sit about waiting for the next snowfall. These ended up in my closet unworn til it did snow again at which point I realized I'd fallen out of love with the boots. I briefly considered selling them on eBay since by then they were listed on line at their original $190, but went for the easy option and returned them to Zappos a full 8 months since purchase for a full refund. And they picked up the return shipping.

2.    Fashion not a fortune: Uggs: I love them. Not because they're trendy, I've actually been wearing them for years. Long before Britney and countless teeny-boppers made the ubiquitous Aussie foot fetish the most pricey piece of old sheep money can buy, Lulu was rocking her ugly fluffy boots around the streets of London for sheer comfort. If you're a fan too why schlep to Nordstrom when you won't do better than buying them on line for range, availability and speed. They sell out fast so log your requested size and color with the site and they'll email you the second they're in stock.

3.    Comfy fun: Saucony sneakers. I'm addicted to the "originals" range. Total comfort, colors that make me want to dance and a neat price tag. I bought six pairs last summer. Only two went back. When I called Zappos because one pair seemed a little off, they sent me a new pair the next morning without charging me. They actually trusted me to send the old pair back (on them of course) and when I called to say I hadn't received my customary spare pair of colored laces in the new box, you know what they did? Apologized up and down that they had no extras in stock, gave me a $10 credit and a link to a site specializing in colored laces.

4.   Dress like a supermodel. Or the Queen. Hunter "wellies", that's "Wellington boots" or rain boots. Check them out, they're not cheap at around $100 a pair but Lulu grew up striding the hills of rainy Hampshire and riding the "proper" way on English horses in these.  And what's more, the Queen wears them. No, not that other Great British export Kate Moss - I mean H.R.H Elizabeth II (obviously I am standing up to type this sentence out of respect). Now back in the days before the Olsen twins donned Hunters to stride the rainy streets of Manhattan they cost less than half the price and were actually made in Scotland, not China, but what's a girl with a lust for tradition to do? In the old days they came in green for the purists, and for those living in the fast lane...er, dark blue. Now there's a dazzling array of colors including silver (bit 70's sci-fi for me but apparently the UK festival crowd dig them). I tried hot pink, canary yellow and lavender from Zappos before settling on aubergine. That's eggplant purple to you. They may be steep but they'll last you a lifetime (my old ones would have if I hadn't lost them in the UK-US move sob sob).

5.    Don't fear the serious sneakers: Buy running shoes on line I hear you gasp? Surely not! Well let me reassure you. Zappos has an excellent tool to help select the right athletic shoes for your gait (the unique way you walk or run). Using this easy tool I was able to hit jackpot first time and Mr. Thrift has been pounding the suburban pavement with his cut price top brand sneaks for years and nary a twingey joint. Bingo.

6.    Mercedes for your feet: One word - Birkenstocks. These are amazing sandals made in Germany that have moved with the times. Back when I was at University in England "Birkies" were the stuff of legend. Only hairy-armpitted eastern European backpackers wore these ugly leather sandals and I wouldn't have been seen dead in a pair. But times have moved on, the designers have elevated their fashion sensibilities while the German engineering and quality have remained true. They'll cost you a bit more than some mall sandals but when those have fallen apart you'll still be hiking trails and hitting the bars in your Birkies. In a nod to the current gladiator explosion mine are bronze, my best friend has a patent pink pair and I've flirted with the silver Gizah for this summer.

Finally my most important piece of advice: sign up to the sites. The only way you'll stay ahead of the deals and discounts is by registering with each site you like. You can always set up a separate free email address to receive coupons and deals if you don't want your regular in-box crammed with flyers. Every shoe site I've mentioned puts out deals and discount codes which yield 15-50% and more off regular priced items. Sign up and stay ahead, there are many deals afoot. Ho ho. (Sorry).

Yours thriftily,

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Dress Up Like A Cow and Eat Free

Is July 10 Groundhog day for the bad economy? Is the recession coming to an end? Is it getting worse? July 10th is the 5th Annual Chik-fil-A Cow Appreciation promotion, and there are those who think that this year's event is a sign of the times. As in, how far will you go  to score some free food? It takes a sense of humor and the willingness to pretend it's Halloween, but you have to admit, the ad graphics for this one are pretty funny.

Just in case you haven't heard all this by now, Chik-fil-A is offering free food on July 10th--the rules say anyone who shows up dressed as a cow gets free eats. Will there be a stampede? Will the lines at Chik-fil-A look like a new City Slickers sequel-in-progress? Is Billy Crystal handing out the free food? If you can hear the theme from Rawhide playing near your local Chik-fil-A, you'll know exactly what's going on.

But how desperate are we, as consumers, for free food that we'll actually stuff ourselves into a cow suit?

With gas prices edging closer and closer to four bucks a gallon again and the increase in food prices, maybe it's not so much a question of desperation as, "Hey, let's have some variety over here!" There's still a trend towards not eating out, not buying overpriced lattes at THAT PLACE, and cutting back at the grocery store. Who wouldn't slap on a cowbell and some novelty ears to get a free lunch?

"Cow Appreciation Day is a great barometer of how passionate our customers are," said Chick-fil-A's Senior Vice President of Marketing Steve Robinson. "If you're willing to dress up like a cow for a free meal, you're obviously a loyal and even raving Chick-fil-A fan." 

That from a press release about the July 10 promotion. We agree with the term "raving". But at least one CheapToday staffer has vowed that more cowbell is going to be part of the dress code for one day only. Yeah, I said it...some of us are actually going out, dressed on our Sunday-gone-to-pasture hooves and spots to score our free meal.

I won't mention which ones, if only to spare the inevitable Facebook photo blast. But I will say this...if you dress up as a cow on July 10, go outside and see your shadow, it does NOT necessarily mean the recession will end in six weeks. Let's agree not to get our hopes up here.

I have to admit that I myself am skeptical about a massive turnout for this promotion--how many people will actually go this far for free chicken? An informal poll I did among my friends was mixed, but there were enough "Why not?" answers to make me think twice. I only hope someone isn't waiting at the Chik-fil-A with a cattle brand to mark those who scored their free meal.

Yikes.

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Get Your Cheap Travel PhD

I've spent a lot of my life waiting in airports, train stations, and taxis. I feel uniquely qualified to dispense advice on cheap travel; somebody really ought to award me an honorary PhD on the subject so I can call myself "Doctor Travel". I know that sounds egotistical, but I mean well. Humor me.

Gas prices are creeping up again, and we watch helplessly as we creep back towards four bucks a gallon, I thought it was time we all got cheap travel doctorates. Cheap flights, vacation packages, and hotel rooms abound, but are you really saving? You might be able to get in free at Disney, and that is a solid deal indeed--but what about the rest of your adventure? What good is an awesome freebie if you get stiffed with full-fare travel and full-priced meals?

Try to stack up your freebies and discounts and double-dip on the savings. Smart travelers will search through the latest round of free food at restaurants, discounted hotel stays, and other goodies to take advantage of while on the road.

Now that's a bit of "no duh" advice, but here's the step some people don't think to take. Schedule all this stuff to coincide with the cheapest travel days. Never fly or take the train over a weekend--rates are higher on Fridays and Sundays, and you'll stretch your budget farther by traveling outside those peak times. **Update** Conde Nast Traveler recommends something a bit different for weekend travelers. "Taking two days off work?" writes Wendy Perrin, "You'll find cheaper fares and greater seat availability if you fly on a Saturday and return on a Tuesday, instead of going from Thursday to Sunday or Friday to Monday."

Ever notice how gas prices go up just before holidays like the 4th of July and Memorial Day? Avoid road tripping around these price-gouging dates and you'll save a bit more. The same rules apply for your hotel stay--those rates get more reasonable during off-peak times and you may discover your best hotel deals come staying Monday through Thursday.

On the other hand, many hotels offer discounts for weekend stays--if you're driving to your vacation hot spot, it pays to call the hotel and ask them what special promotions you could be entitled to, whether that's weekend or midweek. Before you call the hotel, call your credit card customer service line to see if there's an arrangement between the hotel chain and the credit card company. You might discover a special program you didn't know about. These arrangements are often for grouping your car rental, airfare and hotel booking together, so it's best to check before you book a flight or rental. Avoiding a weekend flight might not be necessary if the right discount package is available.

Half the battle of saving money once you get to your destination comes from knowing where to go and how to get there. How many times have you been served barely edible meals at a tourist trap family restaurant only to learn about the really good, inexpensive place down the street after it was too late? Avoid wasting money on bad food and lousy attractions with the help of online review sites like the fantastic Not For Tourists. You'll get the downlow on the good, the bad, and the ugly at your destination and you might even learn about some "kids eat free" deals or other penny-pinching offerings at destination restaurants near your hotel.

Again, there's a no-brainer bit of advice--but it's an idea you should also apply to travel to and from attractions. I once wasted a fair bit of money taking a taxi downtown from an east coast airport when there was a perfectly good two dollar train ride going to the same destination. All I needed to do was look up the public transit system online and plan my journey a bit better. Don't make my mistake---get online and explore every aspect of your trip for the maximum bang for your cheap travel buck.

This is getting a bit long-winded, especially for a blog post,so we'll leave it here with the hopes that gas prices go down, the cheap travel deals continue, and the free food deals keep on coming. Happy traveling.

Joe Wallace

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Women's Clothes, Old Navy and Frugal Bloggers

I spotted a great article on the power of frugal bloggers recently, and it got me thinking. "I'm a frugal blogger. Where's MY power?" I read with envious eyes about Melissa Garcia, the brains behind ConsumerQueen--she complained about Old Navy's bothersome lack of online coupons. Within a few weeks, Old Navy sat up and took notice and started issuing them more frequently. Now THAT is POWER.

But if you ask me, Old Navy didn't go far enough.

Everybody in the blog world knows blogs are driving consumer traffic. From the links we post to Amazon.com offerings to the reviews we write about women's clothes, shoes, handbags and DVDs, bloggers collectively provide millions of dollars in free advertising (or practically free) to Old Navy, Best Buy, Sears, and many others. Apple owes us bloggers about a millionfold. So where's the love?

What OUGHT to be happening? Well, for a start, look at this blog right here. Do you see any exclusive coupons or offerings from the companies we regularly promote with all that delicious free advertising? Why doesn't Old Navy show ConsumerQueen.com some appreciation by offering some blog-only coupons designed to put a smile on the faces of those loyal readers?

I'd say Melissa Garcia has definitely earned that particular type of retail respect from Old Navy. In light of Melissa's command of her audience, the idea that Old Navy merely offered a few extra coupons on their own site seems almost disrespectful. Old Navy should go the extra mile and offer something more to blogs and their readers.

Me personally, I don't wear women's clothes. But I write about them; I know the difference between a pair of pumps and a pair of Mary Janes, why plaid and stripes don't go together, and I know the power of a good online coupon to push someone from window shopper to credit card warrior.

And I know stores like Old Navy, 6PM, Macy's and Best Buy could throw up a password-protected page for bloggers who register as bona fide Internet publishers for the purpose of distributing "blog-only" coupons.

We'd love to bring you blog-only exclusives, and while I can't speak for ConsumerQueen.com, I am sure nobody writing there would turn down such an offering as long as it didn't look like they were kept by Old Navy (or whoever).

I'm counting on what Buffalo News writer Anne D'Innocenzio called "The Power of Frugal Bloggers" (the article's headline) to get these major retailers to sit up and notice a huge opportunity right in their virtual back yards. Will it work? Only time will tell, but if that Buffalo News article is any indication it could be only a matter of weeks before some awesomely exclusive online coupons start showing up at your favorite blogs. Let's keep our fingers crossed, shall we?

P.S. For those who have commented, I know all about affiliate programs and the like, but this is about online discounts offered specifically to blogs with no strings attached--stuff any blogger could easily put on their site--actual DEALS, not just product placement. Will the retailers listen? Time will tell.

Joe Wallace

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