Bargain Biatch

SpaSally Spa Tuesday and Spa Week

Yes I’ve been out of the loop, but I’m baaaack! And thanks to my mom I’ve signed up for a fantastic new SpaSally called Spa Tuesday.  I have no idea who this Sally person is but I luv her since she every Tuesday she posts a $25 spa deal that you can upgrade.  Yesterday’s treatment was a mini (30 minute) facial at a Beauty Jewel, a Spa at west 4^th and the site also lists a preview for next Tuesday’s deal.  The $50 upgrade got you a 60-minute deep pore cleansing with the works.  If that’s not enough to make you look fabulous, book now for a Spa Week, from October 11-17, take advantage of $50 facials, massages, waxing, mani pedis, peacock poop scrubs, OK not that last one, at spas throughout the 5 boroughs. But practice a little buyer beware, not all spas are created equal.  Do some research about the establishment and check online reviews. And for spa week, I always revisit places where the treatments and customer service live up to the standards I so richly deserve….for 50 bucks.

Befriend The Cat and Save Big On Pumas

I love my Puma’s… proof of my amor can be found on my Facebook page where my photo is a shot of my fantastic pewter and silver Puma High tops.  Now you too can freshen up your Speed Cat shoe collection and save money.  For three days only, now thorough Sept 20 take advantage of the friends and family sale and get 40 percent off everything, including sale merchandise.  I’ll be scooping a few of the graphic tees with on sale for $18 before the discount.  And perhaps I’ll get my girly on and add the pink suede sneakers to my cart. And yes they also come in blue suede. Use discount code PUMAFRIENDS910 at check out and don’t forget to support their Souls4Soles program by making a donation.

Save Money By Being Social

  
 

Facebook and twitter aren’t just for updating your friends and family about the minutia of your boring life..”oooh James just had an awesome playdate with Kayla, they shared really well, going to test him for the talented 2’s program.” In addition to connecting with the world wide universe, you can also score some discounts and freebies from participating retailers.  Social media is the new coupon clipper and by following your favs on twitter, “liking” a merchant on facebook and signing up for RSS feeds you can get rewarded for your loyalty.  Or if you want to cut to the chase and check out a listing of current promotions, go the Facebook’s Wildfire application.  It’s easy to navigate and divided into categories with contests, deals, coupons and gifts.  Take a look and you might find a twofer deal for Shakespeare for infants classes and anger management for adolescents.

Smart Travel Strategies....sorry about the volcano

   

Quick post before I head off to Florida for mom’s b-day celebration to help you save on your own travel plans.  The Daily News travel section listed 4 Smart Strategies to save money on your next trip….so in no particular order….

 

1.  Economic Meltdown: Plan your travel around locales that have suffered the most as a result of our tanking economy.  In the past 18 months certain destinations have been very hard hit like Las Vegas, Miami and even Hawaii. So even as you take advantage of the misfortune of others, they still appreciate and need your business.

 

2.  Dialing for devalued currency:  Pick the destination where your dollar will go the farthest, for example Iceland.  Since their banking catastrophe and the double disaster of an erupting volcano, the Krona is on life support so bargains abound.  Or pick a spot like Thailand or Argentina that for years have offered great deals for Americans abroad.

 

3.  Follow the natural disaster or ride the coattails of political instability:  Yep it’s like ambulance chasing.  But the gulf coast, and any place that’s been battered by Mother Nature, or a nation that's recently ousted a corrupt despot will make it worth your while to "pay" them  a visit.

 

4.  Follow the Spotlight:  Once the excitement is over, post Olympic venues and other event cities become ghost towns.  Cities want to get that sex Olympic village humming again so they'll  convert that luge track of death into a theme park ride for tourists and offer low price air fares and discount accommodations.

 

 

September Steals and Deals

 

                                                                                                                                             

Biting off a recent post from Tip Hero about the best things to buy in September.  Topping the list is big tickets appliances.  I’ve been window/showroom shopping for a new washer and dryer and now is the time to get a deal. September is when manufacturers are introducing new models into the showroom.  So to clear up some floor space, retailers are slashing prices in order to unload that “so last year” appliance. 

 

The other best buy is on all things outdoors, like patio furniture and grills.  Just like your summer tan fades, the value of these seasonal items loses it luster making it prime time to scoop up new those lawn chairs, BBQ accessories.  That way you’ll be ready for next summer’s stay cay.  And add to the list of September bargains plants.  Garden centers are eager to move summer plants, trees and shrubs to make room for holiday flora so stock up and plant low maintenance perennials like hostas, Russian sage, peonies and daylilies. But if you have a black thumb like me, opt for the nearly kill-proof bamboo and save (plant) life.

20 Bucks For 20 (off) Broadway Shows

“20”, what a magical number, it’s in your 20’s that you can legally drink, the age where men hit there sexual peak, making them perfect for women my age. And now for 2 weeks from Sept 7-19, twenty bucks will get you a ticket to an off Broadway show.  And no, not some lame community theater crap, but a well-reviewed show like Black Angels Over Tuskegee, The 30 Steps and some just opened offerings.  The catch is that you have to go to the box office 20 minutes before the show and say 20 at 20 to get your tickets. Click here for details and do check out the 20 choices and take advantage of cheap summer fun.

Hazy Hot and Humid, Bikram Yoga Anyone?

Finally checked my email and today’s Groupon deal is 30 days of unlimited Bikram Yoga for only $49.  Wow fantastic since I just checked the temperature and it 93 degrees with the humidity on the rise so what couldn’t be more refreshing than 90 minutes of sweaty hot yoga?  And yes of course I bought the deal since I actually did go to Bikram this morning, and even going once a week for the month, you’ll still save money.  Single Classes are regularly $20 and the monthly unlimited is $175.  The best part is that although you buy now, you have 6 months to use your classes and can go to either of the Brooklyn Park Slope/South Slope studios.  So this winter when it’s sub zero, the hot room might be just the thing to shake off the winter blues…and pounds.

GIve My Regards (but not all my money) to Broadway

This weekend along with the tree killing excess of back to school circulars was in insert for discount Broadway tickets.  Included are long running hits Fela!, American Idiot, and A Little Night Music.  There’s also newer offerings like Lombardi, Mamet’s a Life in the Theatre and the return of Time Stands Still with Laura Linney….a must see. Ticket prices are discounted 35-50 percent and starting as low as $35.  If you don’t subscribe to New York’s hometown paper, no not The Times but the trashy and entertaining Daily News, you can still get the deal.  Visit Season Of Savings to buy your tickets online and watch video clips of the shows. So go out a get ya some culture already!

Travel On The Fly Just Got Easier And More Entertaining

Just discovered ITA Software, a fantastic new websites for searching and comparing the best, cheapest flights.  Its works like Kayak or Sidestep but better because it uses Google’s search engine, i.e., bigger, better, faster, more comprehensive results.  And as a bonus, the site also lists events that are going on during the dates of your visit.  I tried a search NY to Montreal and along with the flight options, 13 activities came up categorized under headings like sports, music, binge drinking, ok not that last one but enough to keep you well entertained during your stay.  After giving ITA a trail run, I had already decided to sidestep my kayak and then I saw they also have a free app.  By downloading On The Fly, you can have the same awesome search capability at your fingertips, so whatever city you happen to be stuck in, you’re not at a loss for fun on the fly, perfect for burned spies, (hear that Michael Weston?) And when visiting boring relatives.

Cheap Eats: Around Town and Online

Eating well just got cheaper thanks to a new website called Black Board Eats.  It’s a site started by food writers and other gluttons foodies who’ve come together to give you the skinny on the best deals around town. The best part is the absence of pretentious about anything other than the food. Their focus isn’t on the newest “something shiny” or that just opened or celebrity hangout. Instead they uncover hidden gems, highlight well-known eateries that are dishing up good food and offering special deals.  When you sign up, you’ll get an email with the daily deal like 30 percent off Murrays Cheese or special prix fixe insider offers and very good restaurants. 

 

If you prefer your fine food delivered, Haute Look, the online fashion sale site has expanded and now offering pop up sales from fancy food retailers.  The most recent sale included tuna…uh no thanks, I’m giving up botchalism for summer. And tamales, not sure but price is right at $32 or 4 dozen of the beef filled variety.  For that price it’s worth to set up your own neighborhood food stand, and hire an unemployed banker to run it for you.