Shopping for a Few of My Favorite Things

I decided to take a break from hunting down holiday bargains tonight and instead offer up some advice on how to leverage every holiday shopping dollar you can get your hands on. As a result, I wrote this article, titled the same as this post. Please feel free to go read the full article - it should open in a new window.

Here’s a summary of a few of the money saving tips that I included in my article:

• Turn spare change into cash or gift cards.
• Shop online at places like Plastic Jungle to get discounted gift cards, then use those gift cards to do your purchasing of holiday gifts.
• Use reward program points that you have collected throughout the year to obtain free magazine subscriptions and the like that can be gifted to others.
• Sell your junk or the bad gifts that you got last year and forgot to return on eBay to earn extra money for your holiday shopping.

These are just a few of the pointers offered in the article, so I hope you will go read it. I’ll be back tomorrow with another round of awesome deals for the holiday shopper!

Well, the Black Friday doorbusters have passed, but there is more great shopping to be had! Here are a few more of the fantastic deals available to online shoppers for the 2008 holiday season:

• PetSmart: For your four-legged friends, check out PetSmart’s pet gift options for under $5. Also, spend more than $40 on the site and you can save $10 with coupon code SHOP (expires 12/2/08 at noon).
• Gap: Sweaters for the entire family are on sale! Buy one sweater at regular price, get another for 50% off.
• Old Navy: Now through Sunday, November 30, select tees, sweaters and hoodies for the entire family are just 2/$15!
• JCPenney: Select jewelry and watches 40% - 70% off online only.
• Victoria’s Secret: Lots of great online offers, including:
  • 20% off entire order (excludes Ugg® Australia, Frye®, and the 2008 Fantasy Bra). Use coupn code GET20. (Expires Wednesday, December 3.)
  • Flannel pajamas now 50% off, plus get free slippers with coupon code SLIPPER08. (Expires December 9.)
  • 150+ sweaters 50% off, plus get a free scarf with coupon code LUXE08. (Expires December 22.)
  • Remember, you can use up to three coupon codes for savings and free gifts at Victoria’s Secret!
• Crate and Barrel: Get free shipping on orders over $100 at Crate and Barrel. Also, there are lots of inexpensive gifts to be had!
• American Eagle: At American Eagle, all tops are buy one, get one 50% off. Free shipping is available for orders over $100. Also, be sure to participate in the “Scratch. Shop. Save.” instant win game to win gift cards or get additional discount codes.
• Target: All kinds of free shipping offers, in addition to their advertised 2-Day Sale.

Have you found other great online deals? Please feel free to post them in the comments section!

Happy shopping!

With the economy in a state of royal craptitude, 2008 will be the year of the discount when it comes to your holiday shopping. This will be most evident on Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving in the United States, and the day that traditionally kicks off the holiday shopping season.

Here are a few of the doorbuster bargains that will be available tomorrow morning at retail chains across the nation:

• Wal-Mart: Black Friday doorbuster specials available from 5 a.m. to 11 a.m, in-store only. Ad may be viewed online. Specials include:
  • Emerson® 32″ LCD HDTV for $388
  • Garmin® 3.5″ Nuvi 200 GPS system for $97
• Kohls: Black Friday doorbuster specials available in store from 4 a.m. to 1 p.m., or online from 1 a.m. to 4 p.m. EST. Ad may be viewed online. Specials include:
  •  60% plus 20% off all fine and sterling silver jewelry
  • 50% off the entire stock of toys
  • All shoppers will receive a $10 Kohl’s Cash coupon for every $50 spent, with the coupon redeemable between Nov. 30 - Dec. 6 for sale-, regular-, or clearance-priced merchandise.
  • Online shoppers also receive free shipping on orders over $75.
• JCPenney: Black Friday doorbuster specials available from 4 a.m. to 1 p.m. Ad may be viewed online, and many items are available online at doorbuster prices. Specials include:
  • Protocol® Portsmouth 5-piece luggage set for $38.88
  • Extra 25% off entire stock of sale-priced fine jewelry
  • Online shoppers receive free shipping on orders over $25 with coupon code 44FS25 
• Best Buy: Shop online on Thursday, November 27, or instore on Black Friday, November 28, as early as 5 a.m. Specials include:
  • Magellan® Roadmate 1212 Portable GPS for $79.99
  • Seasons 1 and 2 of hit television show Entourage on DVD for just $9.99 apiece
  • Toshiba® Satellite laptop (model L305D-S5892) with AMD Turion X2 Dual-Core Mobile Technology for $379.99 (in-stores only)

Obviously, this is but a small piece of the doorbuster specials that will be available to eager shoppers on Black Friday 2008. Before you head out to the stores, check your favorite retailers’ websites for coupons that can be printed for in-store use and advertisements so that you know exactly what you’re looking for when the doors open. Wear comfortable shoes, travel light, and be sure to stay hydrated as you shop, shop, shop for holiday gifts for your loved ones.

Have fun, support our economy, and be safe this Black Friday!