By
Kori Ellis
Tuesday, June 30, 2009, 01:49 AM
Category:
Especially for Women
Are you headed to the beach or pool for the 4th of July weekend? When you are lounging in the summer sun, you can still look stylish. The key is to pick the right accessories. Today, we look at beachy bargains on sunglasses, canvas bags, cover-ups and other fashions that are perfect for fun in the sun.
Right now, you can save 42% on these Modus Operandi Soda sunglasses. Available from 6PM.com, these shades are marked down from $95.00 to just $54.63. They offer 100% UVA/UVB protection and are available in four colors. Sunglasses are a terrific way to add a touch of glamour to your seaside look (and they are great for covering up hungover eyes!).
For a real sweet deal, head to the Box Sale at Express. You can get up to 70% off plus additional 20% off clearance items. These wedge thong sandals are marked down from $29.50 to $14.99, and you get another 20% off on top of that! These cute, casual thongs are perfect for kicking around at the beach.
These White Mountain sandals are another hot choice. The patent leather sandals with a cork sole are on trend this summer. These flirty sandals come in red, white or black.
A canvas tote is an essential for the beach, pool and summer shopping trips. This nautical striped tote is durable and roomy. And best of all, it's on sale! Originally priced at $49.50, you can get it now for $29.99 at Gap. If you are going green, grab this eco-friendly tote
from Banana Republic. It's on sale for just $19.99. Made of organic
cotton canvas, this green bag is big enough to carry all your summer necessities.
When you get out of the water, don't wrap up in a towel or throw on an oversized t-shirt. Instead, slip into a cute cover-up like this halter maxi dress. As you probably know, maxi dresses are all the rage and this one is perfect for a beach party. Regularly priced at $64.00, this cover-up is on sale at Macy's for just $48.00.
Whether you are spending the holiday out of town, at your local beach or in your own backyard, don't forget the sunscreen!
Until next time ... Happy Shopping!
--Kori
By
Kori Ellis
Friday, June 26, 2009, 04:43 AM
Category:
Especially for Women
I'm going to be moving soon. My husband and I have an opportunity to move to a much bigger home and I'm really excited about it. But going from under 2,000 square feet to well over 4,000, I'm going to need a lot more stuff to fill up the space. Maybe it's just an excuse to go shopping, but I plan on buying everything from new living room furniture to new dinnerware. The house is being remodeled right now, so I have about three months to do all my bargain hunting. I'll be checking out everywhere from antique shops to Craigslist to find everything we need. And of course, I'll be looking for some goods right here at CheapToday.
Last night, I saw that dinnerware is up to 60% off right now at Kohl's. They have all the name brands including Oneida, Fiesta and many more. I'm really digging the Tabletops Unlimited Tampico 16-pc. set, which is marked down from $119.99 to just $39.99. The stripes are vibrant and colorful. I'm also looking for some margarita glasses. (We sip some margaritas from time to time here in Texas.) At Target, I found a set of six Bubble Glass margarita glasses for just $39.99. Love the color!
But my shopping needs don't end in the kitchen. We have a lot more living space in the new house. So I'm moving my current living room furniture to the den to make room for new stuff for the living room. Macy's is having their July 4th Furniture Sale with furniture for the whole house on sale. This Cabo modular sectional is $1,000 off! I like sectionals because you can move them around easier and they have a modern, chic appeal. This one features a mix of leather and microfiber and comes with an ottoman too. Also you can get an additional 20% off select items in stores through June 30, 2009 by using this Hot One Sale Shopping Pass. Read the fine print for all the details.
I really need tables -- a new dining table, sideboard, coffee tables, etc. At JC Penney, you can get this $799 hardwood drum table Table for just $269.99. What a huge bargain! I love the hardware and two of the drawers are functional too. Macy's also has this cool Dino 3-piece cocktail set. The set includes a modern coffee table, end table and footstool. The pieces are covered with thick cushions and upholstered in microfiber. Regularly $599, the set is currently just $449.
If you are shopping for a new bed, Crate & Barrel has this loop bed on sale for $300 off. Simple and stylish, this full size bed is marked down from $599 to $299. If you like the minimalistic, contemporary look, this bed is a hot deal.
Target is having a Buy More, Save More sale on furniture. You save 10% when you spend $100, 15% when you spend $200 and 20% when you spend $300 or more. This Country Charm chest is just $219.99. It features five drawers and antiqued brass hardware. It would be a great accent piece for your bedroom.
So what are you shopping for right now? Where have you found great deals? Leave your comments here and let us know!
Until next week...
-Kori
Image: istockphoto
By
Yo Prinzel
Thursday, June 25, 2009, 01:58 AM
Category:
Especially for Women
Recently, I stumbled upon a post which discusses some interesting recent findings by the Pew Research Center. Apparently, Pew found that the number of Americans who consider cable or satellite TV, flat screen TV, air conditioning and microwave ovens to be “necessities” has dropped since 2006.
Wow. I can not begin to tell you the mixture of emotions this makes me feel. While I was first very happy to see that the numbers had dropped, I am saddened that it took a global financial crisis to help people figure out the difference between a want and a need.
Unless your flat screen television is connected to your pacemaker, and the staged fights on “Rock of Love” or “Charm School” are helping to keep your pacemaker beating, it is absolutely not a necessity. Now, don’t get me wrong. I love flat screens and I have one myself...okay two--but I haven’t recently lost a job, I don’t have kids to put through college, and I don’t have massive debt eating a hole in my stomach via stress and ulcers.
Here are a few tips to help you really decide what constitutes a need or a want:
1. Does it keep you alive?
2. Does it prevent you from losing digits to frostbite?
3. Without it, would you lose your job?
If you can’t answer yes to at least one of those questions, chances are you are looking at a want. Think of your perfect, balanced budget as Mothra. Think of excessive want buying as Godzilla. If Godzilla kills Mothra, we're going to be facing floods and meteors and all kinds of catastrophes--and Godzilla's not going to do a darn thing about it. But if you get rid of Godzilla, you leave your future in Mothra's hands and she deflects meteors and keeps the weather balanced. Cars, televisions, microwaves--even ovens aren’t really needs. Food, shelter, heat and some kind of minimal amount of clothing to help you avoid loincloth chic is all you really need. You can add a microwave and stove in because they offer you convenience and tasty food, but a $500 purse is really just going to keep you in debt and prevent you from having savings to address emergency needs.
Yo
Photo by thiagors
By
Kori Ellis
Monday, June 22, 2009, 11:58 PM
Category:
Especially for Women
A girl can never have enough handbags. So today's post is devoted to cheap deals on hot bags for summertime. The latest summer trends include white leather bags, canvas totes and colorful oversized bags. Let's see if we can nab one (or more) of each at a discount.
At Piperlime, their Lime Tag sale is still going on with up to 50% off select shoes and handbags. Love it! The first bag that caught my eye was the Pink Studio Harmony tote. This striped bag is perfect for summer days. It has a convenient exterior zip pocket and plenty of room inside. The striped fabric and rope trim give it a nautical appeal. Right now it's just $34.99, marked down from $79. They also have a white faux leather shoulder bag from Chinese Laundry for just $29.99 (originally $69).
If you are looking to splurge on a designer bag but don't want to pay full price, check out the racy red leather Furla bag. It's extra large, so it can hold all your summer essentials. Regular price is nearly six hundred bucks, but you can get it a Piperlime for $409.99.
The woven look is also big for summertime. This Bridgeport Woven Hobo can be your everyday bag this summer. Marked down from $160, you can grab this bag from Banana Republic for just $89.99. The black and cream combination makes it versatile enough to work with almost any outfit. Banana Republic also has a striped woven clutch that will work for daytime as well as for a summer party or evening out. Right now, it's available for just $49.99. Do you have a Banana Republic Card? Psst... You can get an extra 10% off using the code EXTRA10 at checkout.
Over at Target, you can grab this bright blue Mossimo satchel. Ignore the fact they spelled satchel wrong on the website. It's still a satchel and only $26.99. It's not real patent leather, but it's shiny, durable PVC -- no one has to know. If you are going green, this Plant a Tree Canvas Shopping Tote is a great buy at only $9.99.
When you a building up your handbag collection, you don't need to purchase all designer bags. Instead, splurge on a couple nice bags that you are going to carry often. Select neutral colors and simple styles that will be able to mix and match with most everything in your closet. Then for the rest of your bags, you can go for cheaper, more trendy options.
Personally, I have an assortment of bags that are a little quirky. I have one purse in the shape of a Chinese food box (complete with the metal handle). It's covered with a pretty purple and pink silk. It's really cute ... not practically at all but cute nonetheless. And I picked it up on a sales table at a small boutique for under $10. Garage sales and thrift shops are all hot spots for cool bags. Several years back I bought a vintage ostrich satchel at an estate sale for $25. I thought for sure it was fake. But I had a designer friend take a look and it's the real deal. An authentic ostrich bag will cost you a pretty penny! So wherever you go, keep your eyes open for bargains.
Until next time when we'll take a look at some deals on stuff for your home...
Happy Shopping!
-Kori
Image: sxc.hu
By
Yo Prinzel
Friday, June 19, 2009, 09:42 AM
Category:
Especially for Women
You know those sale papers you get in your mailbox every week? In mine they have local grocery store coupons, Steak and Shake or Pizza Hut coupons, Geico flyers and the Big Lots weekly sales flyer.
Every week I go through these flyers and try to ferret out any deals that look good to me (and man, hand spun milkshakes always look good).
This week I looked at the Big Lots flyer and started making a weird chickering sound. Yeah, I know it doesn't really help you imagine the sound when I use a word that doesn't exist to describe it. Regardless, it was definitely a chickering sound.
Hubby looked at me with some concern although he is used to my odd, Nell-like vocalizations, and asked me what was wrong.
"We beat them!" I screamed, maniacally. Then, realizing that this may be the only chance I ever get to justifiably use a maniacal scream I repeated myself, louder.
"Beat who at what?" Hubby was completely confused at this point and both cats were about halfway up the window treatments with their ears flipped completely backwards, looking for an escape hatch in the ceiling that simply doesn't exist.
I took a moment, composed myself, closed my eyes and took a deep breath.
"CheapToday published two items from this Big Lots sale flyer days before the flyer came out." Hubby was suitably impressed. The cats, as I'm sure you were wondering, had no idea what I said and my statement had no impact on them at all--although they seemed to appreciate that I had stopped screaming.
So now, because of this amazing turn of events, I can say with much authority--you heard it here first. Big Lots was having a sale on a six-piece gazebo and a portable air conditioner. Sadly, both the air conditioner and the gazebo are now sold out, but you get the idea--the deals move fast and furious around here. Act now or miss out.
Now, if only they had a cat prod to get my cats down from the drapes.
Yo
Photo by a_kartha
By
Kori Ellis
Tuesday, June 16, 2009, 01:59 AM
Category:
Especially for Women
Hello All! I'm Kori Ellis, a freelance writer and editor who loves to shop. Here at Cheap Today, I hope to provide you with hot shopping tips and details about the best deals on the web. In today's rough economic times, we are all looking for a bargain, right?
When shopping, cheap doesn't mean tacky or low-quality -- you can get some deep discounts on top-of-the-line goods and designer merchandise if you know where to shop. No one needs to know that you got that gorgeous vase in your living room or designer dress in your closet on sale.
Today, I was hunting for shoes. Alright, I admit ... I'm always hunting for shoes. Fashion is my passion and my shoe collection is beginning to rival that of Imelda Marcos. So to be more specific, I was looking for another pair of fabulous summer sandals. (A girl can never have enough sandals.) Piperlime is having their "Lime Tag Sale" -- free shipping, free returns and up to 50% off shoes. What more could you want out of a sale?
As you might know, yellow is one of the hottest colors of the season. So this summer, add a pair (or two) of yellow sandals to your collection. These Cynthia Vincent sandals come in bold yellow suede and right now they are marked down from $200 to $149.99. With these shoes, you get all the trendy appeal of gladiator sandals without all of the clunkiness. Pair them with your favorite summer dresses or even a tee and capris.
If you are following the fringe trend, you might dig these Chinese Laundry sandals. These flat sandals are all dressed up with a row fringe dangling from the ankle strap. Originally, $70, they are now just $48.99. There are hundreds of styles of shoes on sale right now at Piperlime, so don't miss out. Pour yourself a glass of limeade and settle in for an afternoon of online shopping.
Piperlime isn't the only place you can find shoes on sale today. Macy's is having their summer sale on just about everything. Of course, I beelined to the shoe section. Do yourself a favor when you are shopping for shoes online -- filter the results by size first. That way, you don't waste your swooning over a pair of glorious high heels that aren't even available in your size.
Macy's is holding their Buy More, Save More shoe event. That means, the more you buy, the bigger the discount -- perfect for shopaholics like you and me. Platform shoes, like these purple sandals from Steve Madden are all the rage. These shoes features a wooden platform and a row of ruffles down the T-strap. The regular price is already a deal at just $89 but you can save up to 25% if you buy three pairs of select shoes. Check out all the summer sandals from flats to sky high heels. It's time to stock up!
Well that's it until next time when we'll talk about something else besides shoes (maybe!).
Happy Shopping!
-Kori
Images: istockphoto
By
Yo Prinzel
Tuesday, June 16, 2009, 12:01 AM
Category:
Especially for Women
This weekend, PBS was having one of those pledge drives that I can’t stand. Oh, I know, they need the money…but I don’t like having to watch them beg for it. I wish they had some kind of button I could press after I make my contribution that makes me able to see the programs instead of the beggars.
But PBS does keep its most popular shows for these pledge drives. Instead of 15 hours of Antiques Roadshow reruns (which I do love for the first 3 hours) they show Joseph Campbell lectures and the Suze Orman Women & Money special—heavy hitters in my opinion.
I watched the Suze Orman special yesterday and, as always enjoyed Suze Orman. In the financial services industry, many people disagree with Suze Orman’s advice regarding life insurance. In general, she promotes term insurance for everyone, as opposed to whole life (which builds cash values and has coverage that doesn’t end unless you stop paying premiums). She generally advises people to avoid whole life insurance because it is more expensive and cash values are not always a good form of return on your investment.
Many in the insurance industry disagree with this advice and a more cynical person might point out the difference in commissions between term insurance (low comissions) and whole life (high commissions) as the reason for this. Personally, I think it’s a little deeper than that. I think that insurance industry agents and employees are more upset about the sweeping generalization of her advice. In general, she’s right—term policies are fine. But there are always situations in which a whole life, universal life, variable life or equity indexed life insurance policy are good ideas too.Only the advisor working hands-on with the client will really know what the right choice is.
Another interesting point she brought up is that women should always have their own savings account separate from their husbands. For me, this advice was a little weird because I’ve always been very financially independent. I realized though, as I watched her show and watched the women in the audience take notes, that many women don’t have their own money.
How ever you and your family decide to handle your finances is obviously your own decision, but I think it is important for every woman to have her own financial identity. Whether you work and add an income to the family’s accounts or stay home and act as full time day care, housekeeping, chauffeur and cook. Every woman adds something important and invaluable to her family, shouldn’t she be able to have some financial independence to show for it?
Even if you simply take the money you save by finding free deals and sales at CheapToday and throw that in your savings account, you’ll be accumulating a little slush fund for yourself that no one else has jurisdiction over.
Yo
Photo by designkryt
By
Yo Prinzel
Thursday, June 11, 2009, 12:14 PM
Category:
Especially for Women
I have a bone to pick with our CheapToday free food...I mean, free deals editor Renee LaVoie. She is making me gain weight. This is not helpful, especially during swimsuit season.
Now, I was already fighting a losing battle with my waistline anyway so it's not like she ruined a skinny girl, but still, I did once have a waist.
Now, thanks to Renee's free Romano's Macaroni Grill appetizer, free spaghetti at Fazoli's, free appetizer at Texas Roadhouse, BOGO free entrees at T.G.I. Fridays, and, oh, I don't know, fifty free donut/ ice cream/ pizza deals...I'm completely done in. I've added another chin, s'more love handles and a spare tire fit for an 18 wheeler.
So I'm exercising. I'm not doing any aerobics because...well...I hate aerobics. Instead, I'm using exercise bands, doing yoga and sit ups. I'm not buying any equipment or getting a new exercise wardrobe--in fact, I haven't spent a single cent on my new exercise routine.
When it comes to fitness equipment, it's important to know what you will or won't use before you go out and spend a ton of money because remember, it's not the buying of the equipment that makes you lose weight, it's the using of it.
So here are some tips I use to make working out cheap:
- Netflix: Don't buy a bunch of workout DVDs, instead use Netflix's Watch Instantly category to find exercise videos that you can stream on your laptop. This is not just a cheap solution to weight loss, it's also a space saver since you don't have to buy all the different DVDs. You can do Pilates one day and yoga the next--all for the same low price and during whatever hours fit your schedule.
- Resistance bands: With resistance bands, you get the toning benefit of strength training without the cost of weights. Oh, and talk about saving space--weight benches, dumbbells, weights, there is so much equipment to lug around and store when you have weights. Resistance bands can fold up and go in your sock drawer. They offer a variety of resistance levels and exercise options--and they are cheap!
- Buy used: Hubby found a $600 Bowflex on sale at a thrift store for only $300. Used is the way to go. Whether you find used equipment at thrift stores, yard sales, classifieds or Craig's List, you're being environmentally friendly, budget-conscious, and body wonderful when buying equipment used.
Yolander
Photo of something I will never do by twenty_questions
By
Yo Prinzel
Sunday, June 07, 2009, 06:33 AM
Category:
Especially for Women
If you haven't done so already, chances are you are thinking about buying some new lawn and patio furniture for summer. A summer that, I hate to point out to you, is already long-shadowed and upon us.
But hey, we at CheapToday are here to see that every whim and desire you have is fulfilled at the lowest possible price and to ease your anxiety over having to rush out and find merchandise at the last minute. So, here are some great summer lawn furniture and patio furniture deals for you to enjoy.
Oh and hey, if you feel so inclined, you could donate a portion of the money you save on our sweetastic deals to The White Ribbon Alliance for Safe Motherhood, an international coalition promoting the increased public
awareness of the need to make pregnancy and childbirth safe for women and newborns in both developing and developed countries. .
Rock your cares away: Ahhhh, nothing like sippin' on some sun tea in a wood glider that cradles your bottom like one of those hand-shaped plastic chairs from the seventies. Especially when the glider is 31% off.
Class up the garden: Is there any area wrought iron can't class up? You could be enjoying a warm plate of possum stew on this bistro set and it would suddenly be socially acceptable to partake in road kill delicacies.
Seaside holiday: You may not be able to taste sea salt in the air from your backyard but you can pretend you do with these Pier 6 outdoor plates on sale at Target. They add a little shore-appeal to your outdoor summer table.
Plastic isn't patriotic: Pottery Barn has a great deal on some patriotic outdoor flatware that you can use over and over again. Don't ruin the environment with plastic tableware this summer, buy some sale priced outdoor flatware that you can use for years to come.
Patio gaga: Did you know Crate&Barrel made decorative curtain panels for your patio? Well, they do and they are marked down significantly this summer. Turn your patio into an elegantly curtained retreat without breaking the bank.
Have you found any deals on summer lawn furniture that we've missed? Well we want to hear about it! Leave us your comments below. And if you are looking for cheap backyard decorating ideas, here's a post for you.
Yo
Foot photo by aussiegall
By
Yo Prinzel
Friday, June 05, 2009, 01:49 AM
Category:
Especially for Women
This is a guest post by Mr Credit Card from www.askmrcreditcard.com, a credit card review site. While here at CheapToday we highlight the best online deals, Mr Credit Card is always on the lookout for the best credit card deals. Today, he is going to share some ideas on how to actually get discounts and save money when you are are shopping by wisely using your credit cards
Firstly, I would like to thank Yolander for letting me do a guest post here. Most of you here are obviously searching for good deals. The folks here will be better experts at telling you what good deals are. I'm going to demonstrate on intelligently making use of credit cards can help you save even more money and make your deals sweeter.
For too many folks, credit cards are either just a convenient way to make purchase or a tool to get into debt. The smart way to use credit cards is to actually pay off your bills on time every month and make of the rewards that they give you. Yes, credit cards do give you rewards. For most people, the best type of reward card to get are cash back credit cards. The most generic cards pay 1% cash rebates for every dollar that you spend on the card. That's all and good, but the better cards allow you to earn more than 1% rebates on certain items.
For example, the good cards allow you to earn anywhere from 3% to 5% rebates on things like gasoline spending, supermarket spending and drugstore spending.
So, the first step is to make sure you are getting cash rebates for spending on these items. Think about it this way:
store coupons + manufacturers coupon + cash rewards credit card = very good savings. Gas station with lowest gas price + gas credit card = savings on gas
Couple of tips on choosing your cash rebate card - Before I go one, here's a couple of tips on how to choose your rebate card.
Do not settle for cards that only pay 1% on every thing you spend - The better cards, like I mentioned earlier pay anywhere from 3% to 5% rebates on things like gasoline, supermarket, restaurants and travel spending
Make sure there are no caps on the rebates that you earn - Some cards will impose a limit on how much cash rebates you can earn. Avoid those cards. Instead, get cards that allow you to earn unlimited rebates
Hey - what what about shopping and specifically online shopping - Ah, I'm coming to that right now. Some folks do make use of cash rewards credit cards and save money on the usual stuff like gasoline, supermarket, restaurants etc. But most people do not realize that they are some credit cards that will pay you a generous cash rebates when you shop online. Wait, but how does that work?
How does that work? - To entice higher spenders and better credit profile customers, credit card companies tend to give out lots of perks. One of the perks that skip under most peoples' radar is online shopping discounts. A credit card that has such programs tend to have partnership agreements with many online retailers. This is how it works. Let's use the Discover as an example. Rather than say going directly to BestBuy.com, a card holder of Discover Card can login into their account and from there access the BestBuy.com site (it is the same site). But if they go through Discover's site, they can get anywhere from 5% to 20% cash rebates simply by going through Discover's site. And Discover has over 100 online merchant partners including overstock.com, apple.com, LandsEnd.com etc (all well know brands). So this is just an example of how to actually use a credit card to get cash rebates (which in my opinion, is equivalent to a discount).
How how do we go about choosing the most appropriate cash rewards card? - Well, here are a few steps to take. First, you have to write down (or rather breakdown all your annual spending on your credit card. You should break them down according to certain popular categories. A good list and breakdown will be as follows.
Gasoline
Supermarket
Drugstore
Restaurants
Travel
Online shopping
Once you get that down, you can go research on all the available cards, take not of their rebate formula and calculate which card will give you the most cash rebates. Yes, it is quite a tedious task. To simplify matters, we have actually created a cash back credit card calculator, where you just key in your expenses and the calculator figures out which is the best card for you.
Conclusion - It's a great thing that you are checking out this site for deals. After all, why pay more when you do not need to? But I hope I have impressed upon you that with a smart use of a cash back credit card, you can save even more money on top of the deals that you are already getting.
Photo by lusi