Bargain Biatch

Be Wise….Read And Save

Just a short post as I’m off to Bea “Book Expo America”. A bit tired after all the activities of the African American Expo and pre-launch of me and my mom’s book, “Down To Business:  The First 10 Steps To Entrepreneurship For Women”….More on that later. But just got my copy of Wise Bread’s new Book “100,001 Ways To Live Large On a Small Budget” filled with great money saving ideas.  Even with shipping it was under 15 bucks and as advertised, I emailed a copy of my receipt and was immediately got a link back to sign up for ebates and that included my $15 rebates.  All good now I’ll start earning cash back on things I’m already going to buy Ka Ching!  

Extra Extra Read All About It: Bread For The Wise

Yes I will be taking advantage of Wise Bread’s book deal.  For buying a copy of their best selling book “10,001 Ways To Live Large On A Small Budget” they’ll send you a link for ebates that kicks off your membership with a $15 dollar rebate. Initially I was skeptical about ebates, how it worked, the selection of participating merchants and if my rebate would be more than the change in my couch cushions. So I watched the Independent Video News Report, checked the alphabetical list of stores and I was sold. I could have BEEN getting a rebate on all the stuff I’ve bought at Sierra Trading Post and Smart Bargains, my “go to” websites.  And then there’s the rebate I missed out on the new Pumas I just bought.  And better believe I’m gonna wait to pull the trigger on the workout clothes sitting in my cart at the Nike Clearance website to take advantage of that 6 percent rebate.  And finally I want to kick my self for the luggage and gifts I’ve purchased from ebags.  If I’d been an ebate member I’d have a hefty 8 percent cash back sitting in my pocket. So better late than never to earn money on things you’re going to buy anyway.

Forever 21, Yes As A Matter Of Fact I Am

Just as I’d sworn off shopping I thought maybe I could wring out a couple of cheap cute summer dresses out of the budget.  So I went in search of the best dress bargains and it took me exactly one trip to Forever 21 to find the winner.  The store is full of sexy breezy, obviously young clothes and basically nothing is over $30. And the dresses pictured are under 20 bucks.  Then much as a hate to darken the door of the horrible ghetto Target where they specialize in advertising out of stock merchandise coupled with surly service, I’m gonna steel myself for a trip.  Target has fun trendy clothes and accessories from summer skirts to workout tanks and embellished tees. I also want to check out the new collection from designer collaborator Tracy Feith which includes dresses and separates from $14.99- $49.99.

Movie Review: Star Trek

AWESOME.  That’s what I gotta say about the new Star Trek Movie.  And as a franchise they have a solid track record turning out good or at least better than average movies and TV series including the iconic, funny, corny original, then there’s Next Generation, Deep Space Nine and Enterprise.  This new/old Star Trek takes place before any of them, predating Khan’s Wrath and Spock’s disappearance.  It’s rewinds back to the original characters and sets the stage for every Trible and Borg that followed.  It shows Spock and Kirk as kids and the experiences that shaped them and made them the well-known characters we came to know and love and sometimes mock.  The child actors are well cast; particularly Young Spock, and the young adult versions of Kirk, Spock, Uhuru, Scotty, Bones and the rest of the bridge crew are nearly perfect. The special effects are great and the impossible to follow convoluted time travel story is fine.  Although my mom kept asking questions about how people from the past could come back to the future blah blah….. I told her to just focus on the exploding super nova… “and look it’s a Romulan Starship approaching at warp speed.”  And speaking of Romulans, Eric Bana was good but he’s way too handsome to cover up with alien make-up and prosthesis.  So I’ve kicked off my summer with a fabulously entertaining blockbuster and ready to keep it rolling with Terminator Salvation.

New Sales Sites For Summer Clothes And Ugly Ceramic Statues

Spring/Summer and time to freshen up your wardrobe but on the cheap.  But before doing the real thing, first I went shopping in my closet and unearthed lots of cute, barely worn shoes and dresses that I’d some forgotten about. Previewing all of your clothes first is a good move and you’ll realize you have lots more stuff than you think.  After the success of my clothing review I’ll probably just shop for a few new accessories and maybe one dress.  Just came across high-end discount designer website with lots of contemporary and cute clothes and accessories.  It’s called Outnet.com and I’ll admit it took me a while to figure out that it was a play on words Outlet/Interent, but anyway it’s worth a look.  Although they do carry a good amount of couture clothing in the hundreds of dollars range, there are bargains to be had. You can shop by designer, price and percentage of discount and sign up for popup sales and notification when prices go lower.  I recently saw a Dianne Von Furstenberg dress half off going for $225. Not bad and about the same price you’d pay at the outlet mall.

 

And I’ll reserve judgment on another site, One Kings Lane.  It’s billed as an EXCLUSIVE Home Décor site but not exactly feeling the merchandise.  After all, how many needlepoint dog pillows and ceramic Ming inspired statues do you really need?

Summer Party Season, Drink More Save More, Slash Your Wine Bill In Half

MSN ran and article on how to slash you wine bill in half and offered some good tips about how to save money without having to drink swill. They suggested trying some Old Vine Zin’s which are completely quaffable and match up well with BBQ.  And if you firing up the grill, or entertaining another fellow wino and want to get Tore Up, split a magnum. It’s cheaper than the two bottles worth you get and there are some good selections like The 2008 Maipe Malbec for under $15 a magnum.  And check out other good big bottle values for Malbec and Shiraz.  Make yourself a regular at a wine store, I love Warehouse Wine, and get recommendations.  But if you’re on your own and need some guidance, head south for some great values from Chile and Argentina. 

And I can’t believe Memorial Day is next week so with summer nipping at our heels, and about to scorch the bottom of our feet, find a signature cocktail.  My new favorite is The Moscow Mule.  It’s refreshing without being to heavy or too sweet and a great way to get a party started.  I make my own ginger infused vodka and use Reeds ginger beer to top it off.  And you can use any middle of the road (or Brita filtered) vodka so an entire batch is about 10 bucks so Bargain Bottoms Up!

Friday Movie Review: The Changeling

After shifting it around in my queue for weeks, I decided to pull the lever and bump Changeling to the top of my list.  Thought I’d finally check out the other performance of the Academy Award nominated dynamic duo since I’d already suffered through the interminable and lame Benjamin Button.  I didn’t really know much about Changeling, only that it was based on true events.  At it’s heart, the movie is a tearjerker of a story about a single mom, Christine Collins played by Angeline Jolie, whose 9 year old son Walter goes missing. Then a harrowing 5 months later the LAPD finds an orphan boy and tries to close the case by pawning him off as her son.  It seems almost too incredible to be true since we’re not talking about a switched at birth baby or finding a missing child years later, post puberty, pre-op tranny, whatever.  Without giving too much away, the corrupt Los Angeles police bully and brutalize Angie saying she’s crazy for not recognizing her own son, even though other people including close friends and Walter’s teacher say it’s not him.  Collins is eventually locked up in a mental institution/snake pit with other “unfit” mothers or women of loose morals but her case has caught media attention.  Her staunch supporter is the Reverend Gustav Briegleb played by the always strange, slightly creepy John Malkovich.  Her unlawful arrest whips him into frenzy and sends him on a mission and sets up a chain of events that expose the corruption and incompetence of the LAPD.  It also uncovers the grisly murders that took place on their watch and that would have gone unsolved but for the bravery of a mom and her weirdly disturbing minister advocate.  The movie was moving, Angie was luminous and sad and director Clint Eastwood was downbeat and incredible as ever. Be forewarned, Clint is not a Happy Camper.

Best Vacation Bargains, #1 Seychelles

I’ve completely recovered from our family’s traditional Mother’s day full of vodka swilling, wine chugging and champagne guzzling.  And my mom going on about wanting a warm weather vacation.  So I thought besides Mexico, (been there done that 10X), or the DR, (poor and dirty) where could she go.  MSN recently did a round up about vacation spots where based on a stronger dollar, and the devaluation of local currency (drugs, rocks, small children) you get much more bang for the buck.  The number one destination was The Seychelles.  The Seychellois rupee has been hit with a 103 percent decline versus U.S. dollar so it’s an amazing value.  Home to some of the most beautiful beaches in the world, it’s an archipelago of 115 islands in the Indian Ocean that’s like paradise found.  Getting there is the hard part, and better have an ample supply of drugs for the nearly 24 hour flight which will run you over $2000.  But once you’ve arrived you’ll immediately want to cancel your return ticket and relocate to this eco-tourist haven. There are seabirds, giant tortoises and abundant wildlife and the island nation’s coral reefs are world renown.  You can take your time and explore the five dozen beaches that dot the principal island, Mahé.  It’s an unhurried island life and you can do it on the cheap.  Sure the big ticket airfare will cost a chuck of change but Seychelles is a big trip and if it’s always been on your list of “Dream Vacations” now may be the time to indulge the fantasy.

Spa Deal This Week Only: 2 Treatments For $85

Just in time for a belated Mother’s Day Gift or if you need to treat yourself for being such a good daughter.  Or make up a reason but be sure to take advantage of this week’s specials at The Skin Spa.  Starting today through Sunday they’re offering 2 treatments for $85, You can choose from a six service including a Mini Facial, Laser Hair Removal, Glycolic Peel and Waxing.  Or if you’re a lady of leisure or a hooker with her days free, add a third treatment for total of $125.  It’s a fantastic deal good at the Midtown and newly opened Soho location.  You do have to get all of the services for the same time and call now since at these price appointments will fill up fast. Click on the next page to continue

Friday Movie Review: State Of Play

Movies are always a bargain but this last week even more so since my mom scored 2 free tickets for taking part in a survey.  So I headed uptown to the participating AMC Lincoln Center Theater to see State Of Play.  It’s a political thriller based on the critically acclaimed 2003 BBC miniseries of the same name.  Apparently attention deficit Americans needed an abbreviated dumbed down version to make it watchable.  Which it was.  Russell Crowe plays a scruffy, greazey, but talented newspaper reporter with a fucked up personal life.  It’s essentially the same dedicated fat bastard character he played in American Gangster except then he was a cop.  The movie has a great opening scene and kicks off with a murder, infidelity and congressional hearings on a Blackwater like military operation and cover-up.  The action moves fast and feels a bit compressed and rushed as we follow the clues to connect the dots and find out who’s in bed with whom, while reporters frantically try file stories that will make headlines.  It’s exciting but I could see it playing out better of over the course of several episodes.  Crowe steals every scene with the exception his brief screen time with Jason Bateman who is terrific as the sleezeball playboy who links the key characters.  And Helen Mirren is of course great as the editor of the “Washington Globe”; I didn’t even bother to question why a Brit would be heading up a DC newspaper.  Ben Affleck didn’t suck which is actually a complement and Rachel McAdams was a lightweight and her plucky Lois Lane vibe got on my nerves. But I’d still give it thumbs up and now I’m going to put the British version in my Netflix queue.