Prudent and Practical

November 4, 2009

Early Christmas Shopping Deals

Filed under: saving money — Tags: bargains, Black Friday, discounts, free, holidays, online, sales, save money, saving money, shopping — K @ 11:59 PM

It’s that time of year again!  The Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals are gradually getting posted as we eagerly wait to see how good or bad the discounts are this year.  For those who may not know, Black Friday is the day after Thanksgiving.  It’s a day when many businesses make a profit and are in the black.  It’s also a day when greed takes over many people and bad things can happen.  Cyber Monday is the online version of Black Friday happening the Monday after Thanksgiving when people go back to work and apparently spend the day shopping online…

Going from personal experience, when the economy is good, there are a lot of freebies and awesome discounts.  When the economy isn’t great, the deals aren’t great either.  However, this year many businesses are taking part in online pre-Black Friday sales and not waiting until Thanksgiving weekend.  I’ve looked through some of the deals and so far there isn’t anything that has sparked my interest.  I’d love a new digital SLR camera, but the deals I’ve seen for both the pre-sales and Black Friday aren’t good enough to warrant a purchase.  See the below links for posted Black Friday ads and the pre-Black Friday sales that are happening right now!

Do you have a favorite Black Friday site you go to? Mine is GottaDeal which shows bargains all year long on a forum, but also has a Black Friday site that lists the Black Friday ads as they come out.  The following ads are currently listed:

  1. Gander Mountain
  2. Gymboree
  3. Half Price Books
  4. Harbor Freight
  5. Kmart
  6. Lowe’s
  7. Old Navy
  8. Sears
  9. Tanger Outlets

“Become” also has a Black Friday deals area.  One thing I like about their site is that you can click on a general item you’re interested in purchasing, such as digital cameras, and they’ll show you every store that has that item on Black Friday.

Many of the following stores have been in the news because of their early deals, so I’ll summarize what they’re offering for you here.

CVS and CVS Holiday

  • Offering weekly deals.

Kmart

Kohls

  • Power Hour pricing on November 6 and 7 (this Friday and Saturday).  There will be many deals and stores will be open until midnight.
  • Redeem Kohl’s Cash and Pick-Your-Day savings.
  • Save 20% on toys already marked 10-40% off.

Sears

  • Every Friday at 5pm through Saturday morning – “Black Friday Now” features weekly deals through Christmas.
  • Every Saturday 7am-12noon – doorbuster deals
  • Offering a credit for any November-release book you have purchased through Amazon.com, Target.com, or Walmart.com.  Use the credit on a purchase over $45 at Sears.com.

Target

Toys ‘R Us

Vistaprint

  • 50% off 2010 calendars, holiday Cards and many holiday products
  • Free shipping on orders over $50
  • Up to 50% off custom photo gifts

Walmart

  • 100 toys for $10 each through the holiday season.
  • Popular books will be selling for $8.98.
  • 2 for $30 specials on Nintendo Wii games.
  • Saturday (11/7/2009) – pre-Black Friday sale.  Hot deals include a Sharp 42″ LCD HDTV for $498 and an Xbox 360 System with free $100 Gift Card for $199.
  • Walmart.com has also started a “Deal of the Day” where they will be selling one item each day at a Black Friday-level price. Today’s deal is a 32″ LCD HDTV for just $298 with free in-store pickup.

Do you participate in Black Friday?  Why or why not?  What’s the best deal you’ve found? Is there anything you have your eye on this year?

August 4, 2009

A Trip to the Amish Countryside

Filed under: life — Tags: bargains, discounts, food, random, sales, shopping — K @ 2:56 PM

Hi all,

In an effort to add a little more personality to the blog, I’d like to start sharing bits and pieces of my non-make-an-attempt-at-everything life.  This is because although I’m usually doing something that results in a very cool end product, I feel the need to show you that I really do get out of the house and do other things… sometimes ;-)

So for my first attempt at this, I’d like to share with you one of my favorite places to go: Kalona, Iowa.  After doing some research, I found out that the Kalona area has the largest Amish and Mennonite settlement west of the Mississippi River!  You’ll never visit Kalona without seeing a barn quilt (pictured below) or a few buggies making their way through the town or countryside.

There are a lot of unique stores, a quilt museum, and bakeries, but our favorite places to go are Stringtown Grocery and Twin County Dairy Factory.  Stringtown Grocery sells stuff in bulk and you can find some unique ingredients there too.  On our most recent trip we purchased burdock root, licorice root, sassafras bark, and fennel seeds to make homemade rootbeer-type drinks.  They also sell canning supplies, cookbooks, and seed.  We usually try to squeeze in a trip to the cheese factory because they sell excellent “squeaky cheese” – cheese curds that have not been refrigerated yet, as well as specialty cheeses, jams, and a few gifts.  We visited the discount store this past weekend for the first time.  This store sells scratch and dent items as well as just expired items at a very steep discount.  All three of these stores are located on the same road.

And if you go about 10 miles to the east, you’ll find good ‘ole Riverside, Iowa.  Any self-respecting Trekkie nerd will know that as the future birthplace of Captain James T. Kirk.  I’ve even got a photo of that as well as some Enterprise-esque “statues”.  Every June, Riverside holds Trek Fest and some of the celebrities show up too!

June 20, 2009

Father’s Day is Tomorrow!

Filed under: saving money — Tags: entertainment, holidays, shopping — K @ 12:47 PM

I know it’s getting down to the wire, but I thought I’d mention that Father’s Day is tomorrow.  I usually get D a little gift and a card.  I really don’t like how the industry pushes holidays on us consumers.  It’s makes us spend more money and feel stressed.  I read somewhere today that the average amount spent on a Father’s Day gift is $87 ! (And in case you’re wondering, the average Mother’s Day gift was over $130.)  For me $87 is too much.  Then you add in the card and then the cards for the other men in your life (think husband, son, father, spouse’s father, grandfathers on both sides) and you can see why people have so many money problems around the holidays.  So here I have some ideas for you!

Dollar stores are great for decent inexpensive greeting cards.  This is the second time that I’ve shopped at a dollar store for them.  They don’t look cheap either.  I went to Dollar Tree just to see what their selection was like.  I walked out with 5 cards and spent only $2.56!  Their cards are $0.50 to $1 each.

Think about what kind of hobbies your favorite guy is into.  Guys that like to cook might like a new grill utensil, an oven mitt or apron with their favorite sports team’s logo, a mortar and pestle for grinding herbs, or maybe some gourmet organic spices.  Other popular hobbies include fishing, hunting, and cars.  My dad likes Carhart stuff because it lasts a long time – he wears it to work, hunting, and for yard work.

The gardening man – It’s a little too late to order them now unless you do a belated Father’s Day gift but mushroom spawn are a very unique idea.  They can be purchased for about $10+shipping.  More desirable mushrooms (think morels and top of the line gourmet mushrooms) are more expensive at $30 and up.  He might also enjoy a trip to a pick-your-own produce farm.  Otherwise, since it’s summer, many home improvement and garden centers are running deals on plants and gardening tools.

The business man – I’m not too sure about this guy, because I don’t know any business-y type men.  The traditional gift would be a tie.  These are pretty reasonable at Kohl’s and JCPenney’s.  Designer pens would be another option.  And if the guy has a lot of  little gadgets, maybe he needs a charging valet.  These start at $15.  Pricier options may include a power strip.

The movie man – This would be my D.  Movie tickets are the obvious choice.  If you have movie nights-in, you could purchase “movie theater” candies at your grocer or a small popcorn popper ($15-$30).  If he has a theater room, find him some movie posters to hang up.  If you go to theaters ahead of time, they may be willing to give you their outdated cardboard movie stands or hanging ads (if you have a lot of room to spare!).  I knew a teacher who worked a second job at a theater – since the theater just throws the outdated move stuff away, she took some of the stands and decorated her classroom with them!

Maybe he likes personalized items.  Personalized bar items like mugs, shot glasses, and flasks are easily found online because they’re popular groomsmen gifts.

Make dinner for the guy or take him out to eat – save some money too!.  If you want to do something extra, take him for bowling or billiards, to a bar that hosts local bands, or to a movie.

Donate money to a charity he would support.  Visit Charity Navigator to search for charities by category.  Another thing that comes to mind is “adopting” (sponsoring) an animal at a wildlife refuge, nature center, or local animal shelter – the money helps to pay for that specific animal’s food and care for a given amount of time.

If you’re still not sure what to get him, the answer could be a gift card.  I do this with my dad, the man who has everything, when I run out of unique ideas or time.  And if you’re not sure what store to get the gift card from, go with cash, a visa gift card, or even an eBay gift card.  I go the eBay route because he loves bidding on items.

Maybe he’s the guy that doesn’t care about these types of holidays – let him sit on his butt with a drink and the remote.

So now take some time and let that special guy know how much you mean to him… without spending a lot!

If you need some more ideas, here are some more suggestions:

  1. Top 10 Cheap Father’s Day Gifts
  2. Top 8 Frugal Father’s Day Ideas
  3. Cheap Father’s Day Gifts Under $30
  4. 11+ Cool (Cheap!) Father’s Day Gift Ideas
  5. Make Your Own Father’s Day Gifts
  6. 10 Last-Minute Father’s Day Gifts for Under $50

PS – If you’re wondering what I got D… I got him a hot air popcorn popper with some “movie theater” candies.

June 18, 2009

Top Remodels During a Recession

Filed under: saving money — Tags: discounts, home, home improvement, projects, shopping — K @ 1:09 AM

A few months ago Kiplinger’s magazine talked about what you should do to improve your home in the recession.  It wasn’t that you get a large return for the specific improvement – it was that the price of the main material has gone down during this slow time.  So without further ado, here are the top remodels to do during a recession according to Kiplinger’s:

1. Replace the roof – According to Kiplinger’s the price of asphalt has been falling lately.  While researching this, another site states the opposite, that the cost of liquid asphalt has increased 90% in the past year.

2. Repave your driveway – The price of asphalt is apparently falling, but unbeknownst to Kiplinger’s may have increased.

3. Upgrade vinyl siding – The price of petroleum-based vinyl fluctuates with the oil prices.  Lower oil prices mean more affordable siding.

4. Add a deck – Kiplinger’s states that lumber costs have declined 5% over the past year.  Since the publication, the US Department of Labor, Producer Price Index has showed that lumber has dropped even more (6-7%) over the past year, meaning a 38% decrease since 2004.

5. Replace or add insulation – Prices are down 2% and are a reflection of the current housing slump.  In addition, you may qualify for a tax credit, which would help to defray the cost, too.

The funny thing is:  although the prices have gone down on construction costs, these projects are still very expensive, with insulation possibly being the cheapest.  We’re still talking $1000′s unless you do some of the work yourself.

D and I got new blown cellulose insulation when we moved into our home.  Even during the housing boom (early 2006), the insulation was decently priced.  We have looked into having the other projects done over the past couple years.  Even with prices dropping, we don’t want to spend all the money to get the “big ticket” projects done, especially since we’ve been thinking about moving for a while.  We met with a realtor last November who told us that it’s not worth it to spend the money to get a new driveway and siding installed – we’d need to live here at least another few years to see any kind of return on it.

  • If you’re interested in the cost off fuel, asphalt, and steel, New York state’s DOT has compiled a list of prices from January 2006 through last month so you can see the fluctuations for yourself.  Construction Magazine has also compiled bi-monthly reports of Design Cost Data from metals to sheet rock and the construction materials in between.
  • And a little lesson — before doing a major renovation, do your research.  The prices are fluctuating constantly with the economy.

June 8, 2009

4 Places Where You Can Find Bargain Building Materials

Filed under: saving money — Tags: bargains, discounts, DIY, home improvement, projects, shopping — K @ 11:56 PM
Image by Getty Images via DaylifePADSTOW, UNITED KINGDOM - MARCH 20: Mike O'Bo...

It seems like D and I are always working on a home project.  We’re trying to improve our home so it will sell quicker and for more money – two important points with the stumbling economy and living in a small town.

Home improvement projects can be expensive, even when doing them yourself – but don’t let that deter you.  You’ll still be saving a boatload of money by going the DIY route.  We’ve done quite a few projects over the past three years and have learned a lot, especially when it comes to trying to make that DIY project even cheaper.

1 – Our most recent find is the Habitat ReStore.  These are located all over the United States and Canada.  They are secondhand stores for lightly used building materials donated by “building supply stores, contractors, demolition crews or from individuals who wish to show their support for Habitat”.  The proceeds go to fund Habitat homes within the community.  At the location in Iowa City, we found paint, lighting, sinks, bathtubs, windows, doors, and hardware.  I only wished we lived closer to one.  We ended up purchasing a quart of paint and a can of spray paint to repair a scratched pot for only $3!

2 – When shopping at your local home improvement store, keep an eye out for un-announced clearance items or closeouts. D and I found our bathroom flooring and kitchen cabinet trim this way.  They were sent too much flooring and had then marked it at 45% off to get rid of it.  I looked at the sticker on the back of the oak chair rail molding (used for the kitchen cabinets) to see that it was over three years old.  A couple stores in Iowa were getting rid of the molding.  After depleting one store’s stock priced at 50% off, we purchased some more at another store for 66% off.

3 – Auctions are another way to find bargains. Many people have been defaulting on their home and business loans lately and in order to avoid foreclosure, they’ve been turning to auctions.  Keep an eye out in your local newspaper or do a search for “(insert location here) auction.”  I’ve seen a lot more business auctions in the last year ranging from restaurants to tree trimming services and even a general contractor – think building materials and garden supplies!  Before going to an auction make a list of items you’re interested in and the maximum amount you’re willing to pay.  If you don’t know what you’re doing you could easily end up in a bidding war and pay a lot more than the item is worth.

You also might have seen Total Wrecklamation on the Discovery Planet Green channel.  The show follows Jody Murphy, President of Murco Recycling Enterprises, Inc. Murco goes into a home and auctions off items such as kitchens, bathrooms, lighting, fencing, paneling, flooring, doors, and sometimes appliances before the home is torn down.  They mainly operate in the midwest, so check out her site for the latest demolition auction.

4 – Going out of business sales have been happening a lot around here too. The latest victim in our town is a pawn shop/music shop.  I’ll just reiterate what I’ve said before:  do your research before deciding to purchase from a business that’s closing.  Often there aren’t warranties on your items and sales are final.

In the above instances we had a general idea for what we wanted to accomplish but did not know exactly how we wanted to achieve the end result.  If you keep your eyes peeled, keep an open mind, and have a general idea of what you want your project to look like, the most unique ideas and the best deals will pop up right before you!

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