MyBargainBliss

Origins Free Gift Through April 30th, Plus Free Shipping Through May

2008-04-29T16:11:00.000-07:00

For a limited time only, you can receive free shipping plus Shedonism™ Deeply hydrating butter cream sample with any $25 Origins.com order. No coupon code required. This offer is valid only through April 30th.

I also found this offer along with the following Origins coupon codes.

Origins.com sends your gifts on time for Mother's Day. Receive Free 2nd Day Upgrade with any order 5.1.08 - 5.5.08. Enter code 05082LS

P0408 - Free Shipping on Any Order by 7/31/08 - 90% Success Rate

04081NJ - Free Shipping plus Samples by April 30, 2008

Origins.com

My Kohl's Clearance Bragging Rights!

2008-04-22T12:58:00.000-07:00

Kohl's is having a pretty big clearance sale with several other promotions happening right now. They have tons of stuff left in all departments. I bought a comforter from my guest room.

They only have queens left.

Originally: 279.99

On Sale: 55.99

Coupon Code: - $5.90

Use Code: new9710 for 10% off!

My order is oversized so I had to pay a shipping surcharge of $13.00. No fun there, but they have a current promo for $5 Standard Shipping on most orders ending soon. $5 Flat Rate Shipping

Here's a list of some of the other promotions and codes I have found:

Free Standard Shipping when you spend $75.00 or more4/23/08 - 4/29/08

40-55% Off Men's Knit Tops

40-60% Off Women's apt. 9® Sportswear

10-60% Off iPod Accessories

Receive a $10 Kohl's Cash Coupon for every $50 you spend April 23-26 **See site for details

Current Codes:

new9710 - 10% off (exp 4/29)

EXTRAMVC15 - 15% off (must use Kohl's charge)

mvc4866 - Free Shipping to 4/25 (must use Kohl's charge)

Weekly Sunday Circulars All In One Place

2008-04-21T11:01:00.000-07:00

Do you buy the Sunday paper for the ads and coupons alone? You may not realize it, but most of your favorite stores offer their circulars online as well. I came across a new site today, sundaysaver.com, and love it because you can browse different stores from one site.

Here is a very small sample of the types of stores offered:

Macys
Old Navy
Target
Kohls
Frys
Whole Foods
CVS
ULTA
Toys R Us

Enjoy!

Macy's Spring Fashion Clearance + .99 cent shipping!

2008-04-20T05:48:00.000-07:00

Macy's is having another big clearance sale with .99 shipping for the next few days!
I just went absolutely crazy at an outlet mall yesterday, so for this sale I focused mainly on the kids.

Greendog Little Boy Long-Sleeve PoloOrig. $10.98Now $2.74

Greendog Little Boy Wide Stripe PoloOrig. $9.98Now $7.99

These are the only 2 things I ended up with, but the sale is worth checking out for sure.

Here area some additional coupon codes/offers from Macy's:

Expiring today! - Free Travel Bag + 6 Samples with $21.50 Clinique Purchase Code CLINQUEG

Free Shipping with $60 Intimates purchase. Code INTIMATE Exp 4/29

Free Shipping with purchase of TWO Sun Products from Clarins. Code SUMMERTOTE Exp 5/14

Top Price Comparison Shopping Sites

2008-04-19T07:30:00.000-07:00

When you need to get an idea of how much you should be spending on something, it's always a good idea to head to a good price comparison shopping site. I use these a lot for higher priced items and travel.

#1 PriceGrabber.com

http://www.pricegrabber.com/

Instantly find and compare millions of unique products and services contained in 23 channels, such as Clothing, Babies & Kids, Books & Magazines, Cell Phones, Plans & Accessories, Computers, Furniture and Cameras. The website also offers shoppers the ability to view and compare over thousands of merchants and sellers and their respective pricing information for products and services, thereby enabling users to ultimately find the right product from the right merchant at the best price.

#2 PriceSCAN

http://www.pricescan.com/

Unbiased guide to finding the lowest prices on books, computers, digital photography, electronics, prescription drugs, home & garden, movies, music, office equipment, sporting goods, video games, watches and more.

#3 Shopzilla

http://www.shopzilla.com/

The company’s mission is to enable shoppers to quickly and easily find compare and buy anything, sold by virtually anyone, anywhere. Each month, Shopzilla connects millions of consumers with thousands of stores.

#4 Nextag

http://www.nextag.com/

The leading comparison shopping site for products, financial services, travel, automobiles, real estate, education and more. At the core of NexTag.com is its proprietary Search And Match technology that enables shoppers to quickly compare prices and find the best deals on millions of products and services.

#5 Shopping.com

http://www.shopping.com/

An eBay company, pioneered online comparison shopping and today is one of the fastest growing shopping destinations for a comprehensive set of products from thousands of trusted stores from across the Web. With a singular focus on shopping, Shopping.com offers shoppers easy-to-use search tools, engaging content and time saving navigation, along with millions of unbiased product and merchant reviews from the Epinions community, all in one place.

Bliss Poetic Brow Shaping Sugar Wax (was $40 now $8)

2008-04-18T08:31:00.000-07:00

I had to make an emergency post for this sale. I was just browsing my favorite stores for new Sweepstakes to add to my new sweepstakes blog and found this amazing sale at BlissWorld.com in the process! I'm on a major budget, so I had to practice a little self restraint here, but this is what I bought:

poetic brow shaping sugar wax
(seen on NBC's Today Show)
Was $40
Now $8

Savings of $32 bucks!

holiday plump pack
Was $60
Now $19

Savings of $41 bucks!

Bliss products are amazing. If you can fill your cart with $75, you can get free shipping. I decided not to go crazy and just pay the shipping, but if I wasn't on such a budget, it would be easy to make $75 and get a great value. You also get free samples with every order, so I ended up with a pretty nice haul for $27 + shipping.

Starbucks Customized Gift Cards

2008-04-18T07:30:00.000-07:00

Starbucks has the coolest little gift giving tool! You can pick a gift card and customize it for your friend for family member. This is perfect for the die hard Starbucks junkie, and of course, everyone likes customized gifts.

It looks like the gift amount is $25 and you can choose from a free card to send or a cuter card that costs a little more. The card is totally rechargable.

Shop for All Starbucks Coffees at StarbucksStore.com

70% off + $25 off $50 Code at NY&Company

2008-04-17T07:30:00.000-07:00

New York & Company has been one of my favorite stores for a while. I don't care much for their casual line and jeans, but you really can't top their business casual and business attire for work. They have amazing deals when the seasons change. We are catching them in major clearance mode, and I've found a coupon code for half off!

Because I am "with child", I didn't buy any clothes this time, but I did grab a new bag and some accessories.

The code for $25 off $50 is 4179. This code might expire soon, so I highly recommend doing a quick search at the top of the page for nyandcompany.com to find current codes.

New York & Company is On Sale Up To 70% Off

We're Expecting!

2008-04-16T09:44:00.001-07:00

Well it's official! Our family is expecting it's 5th member. (Gulp!)

We've known for about a week, and I've already been to the maternity section of every major clothing retailer you can possibly imagine. Among all the joys of bringing a new little one to the world, baby shopping is way up there with picking out names in my book.

You can expect to find more blog entries about baby and maternity stuff, but I will make sure to properly cover all our favorite stores despite not being able to actually wear the clothes.

Baby "Peanut" is due on Novebmer 7. Everything is fine and dandy so far. Wish us luck!

These are my favorite online baby shops. A few of them have current promotions going on. I've linked to this below:

Baby Age -
Free Shipping on all orders over $99! (excludes furniture) - Use Code: APRILBABY
Check out the great deals at the BabyAge.com Outlet Center!

Baby Universe
BabyUniverse: Clearance Sale on Select Bedding (while supplies last)
BabyUniverse: Win a $500 Shopping Spree (see full details)

Cookieskids.com
To celebrate the launch of our new infants departement, enjoy free shipping on orders over $100! (excluding furniture, and heavyweight items)

Giggle.com
Ultimate Nursery Giveaway from giggle
organic toys

Book Review: Brief Gaudy Hour by Margaret Campbell Barnes

2008-04-15T10:21:00.000-07:00

I'm finishing up a really wonderful book called Brief Gaudy Hour by Margaret Campbell Barnes.

I've been on a British history kick due to my new found fascination with the Showtime Series "The Tudors". If you haven't caught the show, you can get the entire first season on Comcast "On Demand" (if you get Comcast cable) for free or download it on iTunes. iTunes Store TV Shows

For a full editorial review of the book, head to Amazon.com: Brief Gaudy Hour at Amazon.

The show "The Tudors" really depicts Anne Boleyn as a manipulative woman who traps King Henry VIII using sex to leverage power over him and alter his decisions. The author of this book has really done her homework for historical accuracy, while I'm sure there are fictional aspects throughout. Brief Gaudy Hour is a great love story about a smart woman coming of age in a world completely dominate by men and the prevalence of social position. We all know what happens to Anne Boleyn in the end, but the tale of how she ends up there is both inspirational and tragic alike.

While I have a link to Amazon above, you can find this book at a better price through Alibris.com. I paid cover price of $14.99 at my local Barnes&Noble (gasp!) because I was just in the mood to start a new book at that very moment, but had I been a little more patient, I could have nabbed this deal on a used copy at Alibris.com:

Used Copy of Brief Gaudy Hour - $1.99
Coupon Code: 'FRIGATE2' - (-$1.00)
Subtotal - $0.99
Salest Tax $0.07
Shipping $3.99
Total Cost $5.05
Brief Gaudy Hour at Alibirs.com

Clinique Free Shipping Offer on First Online Order

2008-04-14T09:30:00.000-07:00

I don't use Clinque myself, but I came across this deal and thought I'd pass it along. Clinique is offering Free Shipping on your first online order. I also have a few other offers I've come across for them. If you happen to already use Clinique, it could save you a trip to the counter. They also have "Club Clinique" which offers free samples and special offers if you sign up.

Spring Flower Basket $13.99 at 1800flowers.com

2008-04-13T16:32:00.000-07:00

Looking for a way to reconnect with family members? Have a friend in need of a smile? I sure do. I just ordered several of these pretty spring flower arrangements for a few friends and family members that live far away.

I ordered 3 of these baskets. The delivery charge is only $5.99, and you can use the code MYCOUPON2 to save %15 on the total order. In order to use this coupon, your order needs to total over $50, but the deal is pretty good even without the code.

Blooming Crocus Basket
(was $19.99) (now $13.99)

You can also find a ton of other flower arrangements on sale. To find their best bargains, click on the "Price" link at the top of their site. Then choose "sale" and sort price from lowest to highest.

I also found the following deals at 1800flowers.com:

Multicolored Roses, 30 for only $30! exp 4.15.08
Save 15% on Birthday Flowers & Gifts, code HPBDAY exp. 4.15.08

50% Off Sale Items + Free Shipping on Any Order

2008-04-12T17:16:00.000-07:00

These earring are really cute! I'm not sure how much longer they will last, as they are on clearance, but I'm sure they won't last long.

Glass Earring

SKU LBX10787

Lucky Style # JLRU2647

Elegant leaf-shaped wire earrings set in goldtone with stained glass vine pattern throughout.

WAS $32.00
NOW $16.00

LuckyBrandJeans.com also has several other great buys at 50% off. The selection is slim, but well worth checking out. Use this link below to get Free Shipping on any order.

Shop LuckyBrandJeans.com and the shipping is on us!

Gaiam.com Incredible Clearance + $10 Off Code

2008-04-09T12:56:00.000-07:00

Swimsuit season started this weekend in Texas. Yuck! Some years are easier than others, but I've been a little stressed out and haven't been able to catch the diet and exercise stars in alignment since the holiday season.

I think part of the problem has been an unrealistic expectation of what I need to do to get on the right track. I think I've been stuck in the "all or nothing" mode, which is why I've decided to ease back into activity though walking. Walking will be good for stress relief as well.

As with any new endeavor, I simply had to go hunting for some fun bargains to support it.

The winning retailer today was Gaiam.com. They are having a spring sale with 20% - 70% off items in their outlet. Take a look at today's brag list -

Stretch Workout Kit
A low-impact way to keep fit

Original: $13.00 Sale: $6.99

Walking Fit Kit
Walk fit

Original: $15.00 Sale: $7.99

Clearance grab bag with pilates, toning and cardio
Original: $81.00 Sale: $6.99

To get the $10 off code, you need to sign up for their newletter. They will then email the code to you.
Gaiam's Online Clearance Outlet Save up to 75% instantly (while quantities last)

Women's Magazine Subscriptions Under $6

2008-04-08T04:48:00.001-07:00

Here is a sample of some of the magazines I've found at BestdealMagazines.com for under $6. This site also has a "deal of the day" which is worth checking out on a regular basis.

BestDealMagazines.com offers my favorite way to get subscriptions for less, but I offer other tips for finding cheap subscriptions in this post: http://mybargainbliss.blogspot.com/2008/03/best-deals-strategies-magazines.html

Now for the codes:

QPON15OFF - 15% off all orders
MNDCJ46 - $5 off $30

If these are expired by the time you happen upon this post, do a quick search at the top of the blog to see if there are any new codes.

A&E and The History Channel: DVDs 60% off

2008-04-07T04:47:00.000-07:00

If you enjoy any of the tv shows that come on these networks, you need to check out their clearnace page . They have tons of DVDs on sale for up to 60% off.

I ordered the "Romance Classics Collection" originally for $119.97, on sale for $59.99. These are all wonderful, especially the Pride & Prejudice movie with Colin Firth. (love that guy)
Featuring:
Pride and Prejudice - Emma - Jane Eyre - Ivanhoe
Tom Jones - The Scarlet Pimpernel - Lorna Doone
Victoria and Albert.

They have a TON to others choose from. Link to Site

I wasn't able to track down any current coupon codes, but the sale is pretty good on it's own. Here are a few other special offers I found:

INTERVENTION: Pre-order Intervention Season One: Then and Now DVD at THE A&E SHOP!

Save 40 % on The Universe / Hubble: Mirror of the Universe DVD & Book Set at THE HISTORY CHANNEL SHO

Save 40% on Bon Jovi: Lost Highways Concert DVD/CD Set at THE A&E SHOP!

KING: Save 40-50% on the MLK Legacy Collection set and other King DVDs at THE HISTORY CHANNEL SHOP!

Aeropostale: 75% Off Clearance Finds!!

2008-04-06T04:48:00.000-07:00

I got one of each of these cute tops at Aeropostale for only $5.99!

They have tons of other cute clothes and swimwear available on clearance as well. Basically there are tons of $30 tops for $5.99 all over the site.
Warehouse Sale Girls- Save up to 70% off at Aeropostale

I've done a pretty in depth search for coupon codes with no luck. Please share if you find any!

How to Use Coupon Codes

2008-04-05T04:45:00.000-07:00

Coupon codes and promotions are essential to making sure you are getting the absolute best deal on whatever you're after. Today, we will take a look at the different types of coupon codes and how to use them.

Types of Coupon Codes and Promotions

Promotional Links - A promo link will simply look like a text link describing an offer. All you need to do when you see these is click on the link. You will be directed to the website and you will see that the offer is active when you add items to your cart.

Example for Drugstore.com: Free Shipping on orders of $25.00 or more! New Customers Only. See site for details.

Coupon Codes - Also known as promo code or offer code, these "codes" are the key to big savings a popular online retailers. In most cases, coupon codes are entered during the checkout processes and are reflected in your cart once you hit the update button.

Example: Get $10 of $15 at Gaiam.com (exp unknown) = CSDJ

Shop the site. Add the desired items to your cart. Click Checkout.

During "Step 1" of the checkout process, you will see a field for "Key Code/Web Code". Enter your code here.
Click the continue button. Before you enter your credit card info, click back on the "Shopping Cart" button to make sure your code was processed.
Now that your discount as been applied, check out and enjoy your savings!

The Basics of Coupon Code Hunting

2008-04-05T04:44:00.000-07:00

Since most great online deals start with a coupon code, it is essential that you know exactly how to find the latest and greatest codes. I wish I could say that coupon code hunting were as easy as a quick search on Google, but you will find that, with a little practice, you can be sure to always have the very best bargains at your fingertips.

There are 2 main avenues to follow when searching for codes; coupon code sites and message boards. Let's explore each.

#1 Coupon Code Sites

If you do a quick google search for "coupon code" you are bound to come across page after page of these sites that focus on getting coupon codes to the public. You can even search for "target coupon codes" or "old navy coupon codes" for more specific results. I have a favorite site I like to use for search: RetailMeNot.com

You simply enter the name of your retailer, and like magic, a list of coupon codes is returned with expiration dates and even comments from users on their success using a particular code. I have included a search box at the top of this blog that will search the RetailMeNot.com coupon database. Try it out.

#1 Message Boards and Forums

Doing a coupon database search should be your first stop, but consider that, in most cases, these site are getting these codes directly from the retailer by way of xml feed. While retailers want you to use their promotional codes, there are often additional codes that are more hush hush. These codes are often only found by searching shopping community message boards. Again, I have a favorite. I've been doing this a long time and the site, MyCoupons.com, has one of the most amazing message board communities. MyCoupons isn't the largest community, but since it is targeted toward the same audience as this blog, I think you will find it to be the most helpful. For the largest forum community, check out Fatwallet.com. Again, I have included a way to search MyCoupons.com's message boards directly from this site if you wish.

If you use these two methods to search for coupons, you can rest assured that you are getting the best deal out there at any given moment.

Not sure how to use coupon codes? Check my post, How To Use Coupon Codes.

Macys.com Clearance Time

2008-04-05T04:36:00.000-07:00

We are rapidly approaching the spring season, ladies. Do you have cute spring shoes? I don't know about you, but I'm really strapped for cash this season. I recently put on a little weight and none of my warmer clothes fit. It's really depressing, but nothing cheers me up quite like finding amazing deals online.

Macy's is having a sale and their clearance merchandise is an additional 25% off the already reduced price. Check out what I was able to find tonight...

Bandolino "Yaletha" Slingback
Orig. $69.00
Was $20.70
Now $15.52
Savings of $53.48!
They still have plenty of colors and sizes.

Frye "Reese" Slide
Orig. $160.00
Was $48.00
Now $36.00
Savings of $124.00!

They also have a dark brown color. It was a tough call. They are both really cute.

There are amazing deals like this throughout the site, but I am really trying to only buy what I need, so I stopped with these shoes tonight. I want to offer some strategies that will help you shop this sale. Follow these rules to make sure you get the best deal while you shop.

1. Go to Macys.com and click on the "Sale" tab (or on the giant banner that says sale)

2. Click on the "CLEARANCE" link at the bottom of the menu sidebar on the left

3. Browse the category of your choice located under CLEARANCE (they try to trick you by putting the regular sale product categories about the clearance categories)

4. This next step isn't very obvious, so listen up! That same menu will expand to show you an option for "Shop by Size". By clicking this, it will allow you to then sort by price, which is the trick to finding the best deals.

Enjoy the sale!

UPDATE : Use the code WAREHOUSE
$10 off any Clearance purchase of $100 or more
Expires 03/25

Loreal Skin Genesis: This stuff really works!

2008-04-04T04:43:00.000-07:00

I tried a sample of Loreal's Skin Genesis Daily Serum a few days ago, and I must say that I am extremely impressed! It really isn't like me to go head-over-heels for a skin product. I have very dry, sensitive skin with large pores and wrinkles. Sounds lovely, doesn't it? I used the sample and, of course, didn't notice anything right away. The next day I was in the car (in the scary daylight) and my jaw almost dropped. My skin was noticeably tighter and appeared brighter. I asked my sister if she had ever tried it, but she didn't care for it too much. She does have a friend who is also singing it's praises, so I guess it is hit or miss.

So now that I've found my new, favorite age fighting product, how will I get it for the least possible dough?

Your first stop should be the Loreal website to nab a sample of your own.
Loreal Website

The best deal I have found isn't online unfortunately, and this pains me so.... However, I found a buy 1, get 1 deal at CVS Pharmacy. You need to sign up for their "Extra Care Card" and then you can take advantage of the savings. (Good through April 6 I believe)

Buy 1 Skin Genesis Daily Treatment Serum for $19.99
Get 1 Skin Genesis Eye Serum or Skin Genesis Deep Action Night Complex for FREE

If you aren't really into the buy 1, get 1 deal, or you don't have a CVS, you can pick up the Daily Treatment Serum for about $17 at Target.

Do you have a favorite anti-aging formula? Let me know, and I'll hunt down a bargain!

Shipped for Under $20 - Drugstore.com

2008-04-03T04:33:00.000-07:00

The "Shipped for $20" series is essentially the Internet equivalent of going to your favorite store and raiding the end-caps for dirt cheap clearance merchandise. Your favorite online retailers will liquidate their overstock using their web sites. It’s been a while since I’ve done my clearance scavenging ritual, so I thought I’d share a bit of what I’ve found today.
There are a few rules I like to follow. These help me from getting caught up in the moment of clearance frenzy.

Rule #1 – I must check for coupon codes prior to checking out.
Rule #2 – The product(s) must be well below retail.
Rule #3 – I can’t spend over $20 including shipping. The only exception is if I really truly need and have been thinking about the item(s) prior to, oh let’s say, the last hour!
Now for the fun part! Here’s my goodie list for the day… I spent $18.56 total!

They are running a special for free shipping if you also buy something (anything!) from their sister site beauty.com.

Start at the drugstore.com site and click on the promotional banner for “Free Shipping w/ Beauty.com order” which directs you to beauty.com.

Click on the accessories button and go to the left side-bar where it allows you to “SHOP by price. Click on $0 – $25. Then sort by lowest price. I picked a $2.00 Stila refillable compact. I plan on pouring my Bare Mineral powder foundation into it.

At this point, your cart should reflect the free shipping and you can now choose 3 free samples from beauty.com. There should be a pink box to the right that says “you’ve earned 3 samples, click to choose” or something like that. Go ahead and pick them.

Now look up in the left hand upper corner and click on the link that says “2 sites, 1 cart”, which will direct you back to drugstore.com. I’m sure there are other ways of doing it, but this is the most direct.

Now shop drugstore.com. This is my list of goodies I bought “Shipped for under $20”!

NOTE: the free shipping was a little tricky because it disappears if you venture away from the cart during the checkout process. Just make sure you don’t and you will be fine. If for some reason you manage to lose it, you can try again by deleating your browser history and cookies.

Announcing Our Monthly Drawing Prize for April 2008

2008-04-01T18:56:00.000-07:00

Drumroll please..........

Our prize for April will be a $100 SuperCertificate from GiftCertificates.com!

One SuperCertificate® can be exchanged for original gift cards from hundreds of your favorite stores, spas, restaurants, theaters, and hotels available on the GiftCertificates.com site. And it never expires!

Since we will have it delivered to your email address, there will be instant gratification! Good luck!

Our drawings take place on the first of every day of the month. Click here for updated prize and winner information.

Enter Here to Win!

Congrats to Angie - Our Monthly Prize Winner for March

2008-04-01T18:39:00.000-07:00

Congratulations to Angie from Dallas, TX. She won our March prize giveaway, including:

1.) Sephora Brand Perfect Ten Brush Set ($150 Value)

and

2.) NARS Mini Monoli Body Glow and Body Glow II Set ($35 Value)

Our drawings take place on the first of every day of the month. Stay tuned for our April prize announcement! Click here for updated prize and winner information.
Enter Here to Win!

Best Deal Strategies: Magazines

2008-04-01T04:32:00.000-07:00

I have a thing for magazines. Recently, I went to my rather small mailbox and found a note from the postman saying that my box was full and that I would need to drive all the way to the post office to pick up my massive stash of magazines and freebies. I have a few guilty pleasure mags, such as People and US Weekly, but I also get National Geographic and other brain candy type mags. One day I came across a wonderful strategy for getting magazine subscriptions for a few bucks each.

Here you go...

There are 2 avenues I would take to hunt for cheap magazines.

Strategy 1: Ebay.com of course. The trick here is to search for the magazine you are looking for (or just "magazine subscriptions") and sort by price from lowest to highest. I have saved hundreds of dollars on subscriptions this way. In fact, I went a little overboard, but at prices like these, you may get crazy too. The point is that you should always use this method first. I don't know how they get them so cheap, and I don't really care. They really do come as promised. Please read these warnings carefully, as Ebay is full of scam artists which you can avoid with this simple instruction. There are 2 main scams going on in the ebay magazine world:

A seller will sell you a magazine subscription, along with hundreds of other folks within a period of a few days, and then un-register their account. I learned this the hard way. I bought a mag for my sis for Christmas. The price was way too low to be a real deal, (USWeekly for 24.99) but I was just a novice mag hunter at the time, so I tossed it up to lessons learned. It wasn't the price that should have tipped me off, but the feedback. It seems simple enough, right? Check the feedback for these sellers. I wouldn't do business with anyone who has a feedback rating of under 100 or less than 99% positive feedback. This only applies to magazines. There are plenty of legit sellers out there. You can pay the extra buck to get an honest seller.

The second scam is in the fine print on the listing. Make sure they aren't selling you an auto-renewal. This is where they will give you a low price up front, but it auto-renews for full price after the term of the sale. This is easy to avoid. Just read the ad carefully.

These things seem scary, but a.) check the feedback, and b.) read the ad, and you should be fine. Don't worry about bidding on them. Elect to search "buy it now" only. There are too many listed out there, so sellers are putting their best offer on the table right away. Happy hunting...

Strategy 2: Online Magazine Outlets

There are dozens of great magazine outlets on the web, which all provide legit magazines at wonderful prices. Here is my favorite one:

BestDealMagazines.com - This one is really cool because they offer a "Deal of the Day" which today happens to be Sporting News for $3.89. I don't really give a flying leap about sports, but I will check back in with them daily to see what they are offering. Most of the time they feature chick magazines.

Here's another tip to save you some cash at BestDealMagazines = Coupon Codes "baby, yeah!" (that was my Austin Powers voice by the way)

Here are the most current codes:

$5 off $30 - MNDCJ316

$7.50 off $40 - MQQCJ316

15% off any purches - PXCJ316

$10 off $50 - MQPCJ316

bestdealmagazines.com

If you find that any of these have expired, please comment. I'll go in and see if I can dig up the latest and greatest. You can also scroll to the top of this page to do a quick search.

Rolling 30-Day List of Target Clearance Items

2008-03-30T04:42:00.000-07:00

Fatwallet.com has a truly unbelievable forum community. The site targets both women and men, so what you get is a truly comprehensive list hot deals. I decided to go on a hunt for a list of current target clearance items, and I found just that!

This is a link to fatwallet's "Rolling Thunder" Target clearance post.
FATWALLET FORUMS

You can find a ton of general Target information, as well as a rolling 30-day summary of Target Clearance items with prices. Here's an example of their last 2 days of listings.

Here's an example of the type of information you can get.

Mar-29-2008

008020427 Audiovox 2.1 200-Watt DVD HTIB - STS99211 99.99 now 84.98
008020428 ?Stereo? was 94.99 now 72.24
008030294 Sony 3-CD Player with Bookshelf Stereo System - MHCGX99 199.99 now ??
008091332 Trutech 17" lcd tv+dvd HDTV with ATSC tuner $139.99
056010203 *Canon Rebel K2 35mm kit was 199.99 now 169.98
056060615 Lexar 360 Jump Drive - 2GB 34.99 now 17.84
056060959 *Memorex 100pk DVD-R 39.99 now 19.98
056061040 Memorex Jump Drive Case Holder 6 pk. 7.99 now 5.58
056100459 *Fujifilm Finepix Z5 was 179.99 now 152.98
056100465 *Olympus FE-230 was 159 now 130
056100473 Nikon Coolpix 8.1MP Digital Camera - Black (S51) 199.99 now 169.95
056100760 *Olympus Stylus 760 digital camera 229.99 now 187
056100760 *Olympus was 229.99 now 187
056140600 *Sony DCRSR42 HDD handycam 549.99 now 457
057150192 *Audiovox 9” Portable DVD Player was 149.99 now 74.98
080000829 *120GB portable drive 119.99 now 83.98
087071119 Daytona 500 50 year, two 1/64th diecast cars 9.99 now 6.98
087071129 Daytona 500 50 years diecast 24.99 now 17.48
249000241 Square 34" Folding Table 28.99 now 20.28
249000242 Multi-Use Long Folding Table 28.99 now 20.28
249010050 Julia Barstool - Dark Champagne (31") 99.99 now 69.98
249010051 Shorter Julia Barstool was 89.99 now 62.98
249020014 ?furniture? 99.99 now 49.98
249020015 ?furniture? 99.99 now 49.98
249020018 ?furniture? 119.99 now 83.98
249020051 ?furniture? 229.99 now 180.98
249020058 ?furniture? 229.99 now 114.98
249020061 ?furniture? 199.99 now 99.98
249050014 ?desk furniture? was 69.96 now 34.98
249050018 Room Essentials™ 4-Drawer Chest - Cherry 99.99 now 69.98
249050018 Room Essentials™ 4-Drawer Chest - Cherry 99.99 now 69.98
249050028 ?Laptop Table? was 29.99 now 20.98
249050031 Room Essentials 6-Drawer Dresser - Cherry 149.99 now 104.98
249050528 ?desk furniture? was 29.99 now 14.98
249051448 Computer Desk Maple 59.99 now 29.98
249060015 Mission 4-Shelf Bookcase 149.99 now 104.98
249060018 Mission Easy Chair - Oak Finish 199.99 now 118.98
249060663 Mission Folding CD Tower 69.99 now 48.98
249060667 Mission File Cabinet 89.99 now 62.98
249090008 Exotic Retreat Bookcase/Room Divider 269.99 now 188.98
249090009 Exotic Retreat Entertainment Armoire 199.99 now 139.98
249100022 Phase 40" TV Stand - Silver Gray 99.99 now 49.98
249100023 Phase Audio Pier Rack - Silver Gray 99.99 now 49.98
249100024 Strata 42" Universal TV Stand - Black 199.99 now 138.98
249150052 Black Leather Executive Chair 49.99 now 34.98
249160002 Milano Espresso and Mocha Ottoman 69.99 now 49.98
249160033 Nora Armless slipper Chair - Tan Velvet 149.99 now 104.98
249160048 Dolce Lounge Chair 129.99 now 90.98
GAIAM Eco Conscious Organic Yoga Strap 082021790 75% off $2.48 GAIAM living water Bottle 082020386 75% off $2.98 GAIAM cork Yoga Block 082021783 75% off $3.48

I recognize some of these and validate that the prices are, in fact, correct and current.

Enjoy!

So Many Free Catalogs, So Little Time

2008-03-27T04:41:00.000-07:00

As you can probably guess, I'm a huge fan of catalogs. I like to check out tomorrow's clearance items today, and there is no better way than to get the latest and greatest products in catalog form. Taking my laptop to bed doesn't go over too well with my husband, but checking out a catalog can be just the right way to sneak in some shopping before slipping into sweet dreams of bargain bliss.

Here is my catalog shopping strategy:

I get those Post-It flags and flag down the products I think are cute
I then put the catalog away until the next season
When it's time to shop, I'll put them out and review what was full price 3 months ago and end up with an amazing deal on things I might have forgotten about.

Having your wish lists organized by merchant via catalog is a way to maximize your savings because it allows you to really plan your coupon code stratagy. This site offers links to ordering tons of catalogs for free. I found it to be a pretty decent catalog database from which to start.

I found this banner that shows some of what you can find there. You can click it to go to the site.

I want to give you one quick warning about this site. If you veer away from the catalog page, you will see a lot of ads for ordering "free" magazines. They aren't really free, but offer a 90-day "risk free" trial, which let's face it, the risk is that you aren't going to cancel and will have overpaid for your subscription in the end.

Check out this older post for finding the best deal on magazines. There is one site of which I am particularly fond.

http://mybargainbliss.blogspot.com/2008/03/best-deals-strategies-magazines.html

There is no reason to get a risk free trial when, in most cases, you can find the magazine of your choice for dirt cheap at this site I recommend. Also, I just found a coupon code for 17% off your entire order. Enter the code VALUE17 during checkout. Valid until March 30th

Apple iTunes: Free Stuff, No iPod Required

2008-03-25T04:40:00.000-07:00

If your household is anything like mine, your television programming is determined by your husband, boyfriend or kids. Let's face it! We, as women, are used to sacrificing our own personal preferences for those of our family. In the morning, we watch "choo choo" a.k.a. "Thomas and Friends". In the evenings, the tv is stuck on "The Simpsons" or "America's Funniest Home Videos". Enough is enough. Don't get me wrong; I enjoy watching video montages of dads getting hit in the groin by their kids as much as the next gal, but when do I get to watch what I want to watch?

I've finally found the answer to my prayers! iTunes!

Did you know that you don't have to have an iPod to take advantage of all that iTunes has to offer. I used to think iTunes was just a place to pay for your mp3's when the guilt of pirating them became too great. (just kidding of course ;-)) Check out some of the sweet (and totally free) programming that you can find on iTunes:

"FREE ON iTunes" - iTunes has a section on it's storefront homepage (kind of toward the bottom) that features the programming you can download for free. They add and remove things often, so check back frequently. For an even better selection, click on "TV Shows" in the menu and then look for the "FREE ON iTunes" section. There are pages and pages of free things to check out. Yes, they are trying to get you hooked on shows and music to entice you to buy the entire season pass, but you don't have to give in to that. At the very least, this will encourage you to try new shows and music you might have otherwise missed out on.

The next totally free iTunes feature comes in the form of podcasts. You've probably heard of them, but may have thought that you had to have an iPod to get podcasts. That is totally untrue. You can get audio and video podcasts to watch on your computer. I will say that having an iPod is really cool and you should totally consider going that route if you haven't already, but not having one won't keep you from enjoying the available programs.

Did you know that a lot of your favorite TV networks podcast? Here's an example of you can find using podcasts:

The Tudors is a fairly new show on Showtime. I don't get Showtime, so I get most of my episodes using iTunes. This is a video podcast that has a ton of extra footage, interviews and even a full episode of the yet-to-be aired second season premier. (it's very good by the way!)

No matter what your taste, you are guaranteed to find what you are looking for using iTunes. Here is a link to get the software: iTunes U. Click. Sync. Learn. Download on iTunes.

Target Markdown Schedule

2008-03-24T04:39:00.000-07:00

Let's face it, Target has cute stuff! I don't know how they did it, but they managed to make a super-store cool. The kids around here shop at Target as though they were at the mall. When I was a kid, I didn't want to be seen in Target, Wal-mart, K-mart and the like, but it seems that Target has managed to break away from the pack in terms of really identifying with the consumer.

As you can probably guess, I really don't do a lot of brick and mortar shopping. This is mainly due to being on pretty tight budget and realizing the power of the internet for saving money. I do, however, make it out to Target about once a week. I have a few secrets to share with you.

Secret #1

I never buy anything that isn't marked down.

Secret #2

I watch the price tags and quantity of items remaining to see whether I will hold off on buying in hopes of further markdown, or buy right away.

Secret #3

I know the Target markdown schedule like the back of my hand.

Monday - Kids Clothing and Electronics
Tuesday - Women's Clothing and Domestics
Wednesday - Men's Clothing, Toys, Health and Beauty
Thursday - Lingerie, Shoes, Housewares
Friday - Cosmetics, Housewares, Automotive

Target will typically mark down unsold clearance merchandise every two weeks, but sometimes more often. Right now there are a ton of toddler shirts around $4 (OshKosh), but I know that if I wait a week or so, they will go down to less than $2.

Now that you have the info, here's a fun little game to play if you are ever bored and need something to pass the time.

Leave kids with husband or mom

Grab an Iced Latte from Starbucks (usually in the store)

Go to your nearest SuperTarget or Regular Target

Get a basket and get your game face on

Now roll your cart around the perimeter of the store glancing at all the end caps

You will find clearance signs with tons of odds and ends

Once you have gone around the outside, head into the other departments and look for the clearance merchandise beyond the beaten path.

You have probably found a ton of fun (really cheap) things that you needed or wanted

Come back in 2 weeks and all of this stuff has either been marked down again or totally new for the picking.

It's important to note that you can often find clearance items at target.com.

Have fun!

BookSwim: It's like Netflix, but for books!

2008-03-21T04:38:00.000-07:00

I found this new site today. It has a really interesting concept that just might work! It basically works like Netflix, but it's for book titles instead of movies.

I was able to find a coupon code - CWINNER1
This is for 50% off the first month's membership dues.

Enjoy!

Alert: Ann Taylor Loft - Free Shipping on Any Order

2008-03-20T04:37:00.000-07:00

I just stumbled upon this. I'm shopping this site for today's blog entry, but wanted to give you a heads up on this free shipping offer. It just says "for a limited time" so no real end date here. I guess it could be 5 minutes or 5 days from now. Hurry

http://www.anntaylorloft.com/

Update: Here's the scoop on this sale:

Sizes selection is running out fast.
Their regularly priced merchandise is a bit too pricey
They DO have a great sale/clearance going on now
Free Shipping is applied automatically
Use Promo Code $25 off $50 - (80200012 expires on 4/13)

I bought the following:

Belted Snap Placket Polo Dress
Was: $79.00 Now: $39.99 (Deep Blue)

Hyannis Crisscross Wedge Slide
$19.50 - (Deep Blue)

Deal Breakdown:
Dress - 39.99
Shoes - 19.50
Tax- 2.76
SubTotal 59.49
Promo Code -25.00
Total Paid $37.25
Savings around $55 +Shipping

This dress was marked down, but I chose to buy shoes that weren't marked down because they matched the dress. I usually don't do this, but this coupon code is amazing, so I went for it anyway. I'll use the a lot this summer. I sure hope they are comfortable!

Best Deal Strategies: Books

2008-03-18T04:35:00.000-07:00

I'm the type of gal that likes to pick up books featured in magazines and talk shows. I also buy a lot of to technical books, which can really add up in cost. Traditional stores charge the cover price for books, which can cost a fortune. One way to get around paying full price is to head to your local used book store. We have one here in Houston called Half Price Books. It's great to pop in with a cup of coffee and browse, but you aren't likely to find exactly what you are looking for.

What if I told you that you can access hundreds of used book stores from one website? Well, you can! I stumbled upon alibris.com a while back, and now I always check with them to make sure I'm getting the absolute best price on a book. The shipping is usually well below what you would pay at a traditional store as well. They are more likely to have the media mail option.
This is the last purchase and savings I got from alibris.com:
New List Price: $24.95
Traditional Shipping Costs $ 5.99
Total Cost $30.98

alibris.com price: $ 2.49!
Shipping Costs $ 3.99
Total Cost $ 6.48

Total Savings $24.50

My total was actually 5.48 because I used the coupon code 7W21 for $1 off any order. I got this book in yesterday and it is used, but in great condition. alibris.com also has movies and music. I haven't actually bought a movie or cd from them, but it's worth looking in to for sure.

Here's a list current alibris.com promotions going on right now:
$5 off $50 - Code: NEWS5 (new customers only)
$3 off $30 - Code: NEWS3 (new customers only)
$5 off $60 - Code: ALCOTT expires 3/30/08
$3 off $30 - Code: MITCHELL expires 3/30/08
$10 off $100 - Code: BRONTE expires 3/30/08

A Woman On A Mission

2008-03-16T01:22:00.000-07:00

Hello, my name is Valerie and I'm a shopaholic....

I'm also a mom, a wife, an employee, a daughter, a thinker, a party animal (in a mom's skin), and, most importantly, I'm a woman.

Correction: I AM WOMAN! (ok..that was a bit much)

Now for my mission:

I need to share things. I've been a mommy since I was 20. I have an 8 year old and a 2 year old. In that interesting twist of fate (my 8 year old being born), I set the stage for some challenging years ahead. I was a single mommy at the time and didn't have many friends. That trend has sort of carried on throughout my life since most people I found myself around were much older and couldn't relate to me. I think when you are single (sans children), coming into your womanhood, you get know yourself a little better. I find myself, almost 9 years later. wondering who I am and what I might like to do if I actually took time for myself. A s much as I didn't want to admit it, I need people. I need interaction and connection. I want to learn from you and share what I've learned.

With this blog, I hope to share with you my thoughts, my passions, and my favorite hobby.

Thoughts - Example: 'When is it time to let go of "the glory days"'? (been thinking about that one a lot lately...) or it might be something like "Sugar Free Gummy Bears: Friend or Foe?"

Passions - Well this is about shopping of course, but not just shopping. I want to share all of the online bargains I find because, quite frankly, getting things in the mail everyday gives me warm, fuzzy feelings. I want to share the strategies I've learned over the years to help you always get the best price on everything.

Hobbies - This is the nitty gritty of my shopping habit. We are talking coupon codes here people. I actually had my first coupon code website, if you could call it that, when I was 19. Yes, I was paying per minute for internet service at that point, so you know it was an obsession. I didn't have a giant database or anything, and still don't for that matter, but I had coupon codes in my heart from a very early age. There are plenty of coupon sites out there right now, but I don't think the codes are any good unless you know how to use them. That's where I come in.

Thanks for sharing your time with me. You thoughts and comments are welcome. I'd love to hear about deals you have found, comments on my posts, or if you just want to vent about how your best friend hits on your husband and he told you he was into it (yes, that happened to me...barf!). Enjoy!

Announcing the March 2008 Monthly Drawing Prize

2008-03-01T18:18:00.000-08:00

Our March 2008 Drawing Prize will be.....from Sephora.com!

1.) Sephora Brand Perfect Ten Brush Set ($150 Value)

and

2.) NARS Mini Monoli Body Glow and Body Glow II Set ($35 Value)

To enter to win these items, all you need to do is subscribe to our Bargain Newsletter Feed. As long as you remain a subscriber, you will be reentered each month for a chance to win. Good luck! Check our our main sweepstakes post for updated prizes and winners.

Enter Here to Win!

MyBargainBliss Monthly Giveaway!

2008-02-29T17:43:00.000-08:00

Each month we are giving away a hot product valued at $100 or more! All you need to do to enter is sign up for our Bargain Newsletter Feed. As long as you remain subscribed, you will be automatically entered to win each month. This newsletter is fairly new, so the sooner you get your entry in, the greater your chances of winning. Good luck!

Enter Here to Win!

We will update this post with current prizes and recent winners. Good luck!
April 2008 Prize Announcement
Announcing Our March 2008 Prize Winner
March 2008 Prize Announcement