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Tuesday, September 30, 2008

Spirit Airlines $9 Fare Club - A Good Deal Depending on Where You Live and Travel

I've posted a number of times about Spirit Airlines and their occasional super-discount prices on date-specific airfares. When I first checked them out, I was able to get penny airfares to Las Vegas and to Florida from Atlantic City. At the time the only restriction was the dates of flying in each direction and getting in quickly to book them before the seats sold out.

More recently, they started a $9 Fare Club, and when they come out with their bargains, the best prices are available to members. They still offer fairly good prices to non-members as well, but nowhere near as low.

As an example, they have a fare sale right now good for flights booked through 11:59 pm tomorrow, October 1st. Many city pairs have flights on specified dates which Club members can get for $9 each direction, and non-members can get for $29 each way (plus airport/security fees). Examples include flights between Atlantic City and Fort Lauderdale, Boston and Myrtle Beach, Detroit and Los Angeles, New York and Fort Lauderdale. To see the whole list of current special fares, click this link.

The question becomes whether it's worth joining the $9 Fare Club. There are two ways to join it: first, to pay for membership. The annual fee to join is $39.95. That's something you might make up in one roundtrip if you're booking the special fares, but it probably makes much more sense if you live in or near one of their major cities and have a reason to travel a few times a year to another of their cities. If you're anywhere near Fort Lauderdale, you have the biggest selection of destinations (including some in the Caribbean and Central/South America). If you're in/near Myrtle Beach or Atlantic City, it would give you some options too. People in other departure cities with family/friends at one or more of their main hub cities could do well too.

To apply for membership, you would use this link.

The second way to join is to get Spirit's World MasterCard, which comes with a complimentary membership as long as you use the card at least once monthly -- it also includes bonus miles you can earn for free travel on Spirit as well. To check out all the credit card rules and see if this is a better option for you, click this link.

Spirit's $9 Fare Club may not be for everybody, but depending on where you live and your travel needs, this might be a way of saving a good bit on some upcoming trips.

Targus Toploading Roller Notebook Case for 15.4" Laptops: $12.99 + Shipping

If you need to be on the go with your laptop and want to have a case that can also be rolled around, Fry's is offering a great low price on the Targus 15.4" Trademark Toploading Roller Notebook Case. It's on sale right now for just $12.99 -- when I've seen rolling cases they've appeared in the $50 price range so this one stands out as a nice deal.

Shipping isn't included in the price, so you can expect to pay about $7 more, but even with that, the final price is low for a rolling case.

The Targus Toploading Roller is constructed with a durable 840D nylon fabric. It also contains a padded notebook compartment with padded honeycomb frame which provides 2 times more protection for your notebook. The roller comes with a functional zip down workstation which includes a business card holder, 3 pen loops, key clip, multiple accessory pockets and a padded protective notebook sleeve with an elastic security strap and locked zippers for added protection.

This case is ideal for the avid traveler and includes two removable zippered mesh accessory pockets for additional storage as well as a 40" locking trolley handle and durable urethane wheels for a smooth roll. The ergonomic design of this case makes it easy to transport. Dual semi-structured handles allow for maximum distribution of case weight and the padded shoulder strap makes it comfortable to hand carry.

If this sounds like something that would make traveling with your laptop a bit easier, click this link to check it out.

All Adidas Shoes $34.95 or Less at 6pm.com

If you could use some new athletic or casual footwear and like adidas, 6pm.com has a sale going on that's worth a look. Every adidas shoe/sneaker they have available is on sale for $34.95 or lower! That makes it a lot easier to shop for the style you like.

As an example, the a3® Accelerator which retails for $134.00 is now at the $34.95 price, a whopping 73% off. The Tour360 II golf shoe, which would go for $185.00 is also just $34.95, which is 81% off the original price. Many other styles of athletic shoes are going for 50%, 60% and more off the retail prices.

Also, to help you find your size quickly, you can do a search that narrows down all the styles that are in stock in your size. It's really a helpful tool so you aren't losing time checking every style you like to see if your size is available.

The special sale is going on until October 7th, but the sooner you shop the better your selection will be. To check them out, click All Adidas shoes $34.95 or Less at 6pm.com. Sale ends 12am PST 10/07.

Monday, September 29, 2008

OCZ 8GB USB Flash Drive $11.99 After Rebate (Expires September 30th)

Looking for a flash drive with oodles of memory capacity without costing oodles of bucks? Right now, Newegg is selling the OCZ Rally2 8GB High Performance Dual Channel Flash Drive for $23.99, and they also have a $12.00 mail-in rebate good on purchases until September 30th. They also offer free shipping on this item, so your bottom line cost for this ends up down to $11.99.

This flash drive features:
- 8GB capacity
- Ready Boost capability (for Vista systems)
- Dual Channel Technology
- Aluminum Chassis
- Orange LED Status Light

Newegg has been one of the dealers I've used and been pleased with their service. If you'd like to check out this flash drive and see if it's a good buy for you, click this link.

Sunday, September 28, 2008

Label Making Software Free After Rebate (You Pay Shipping)

If you ever want to print up nice labels for mailings, organizing things, CD or DVD labels, gift tags etc., you know how difficult it can be without the right software. Well, how about getting the software free after rebate? That sure sweetens the deal.

Right now Fry's is offering Nova Label Factory® Deluxe 3.0 for $25.00 and there are two rebates which combine to get you back your $25.00. A $15 rebate is valid for purchases until October 2nd, and a $10 rebate is good till January 1st.

You do pay shipping for this item, which is in the $6 range depending upon your location.

They describe it: "Forget about the old-fashioned way of making labels. Art Explosion® Label Factory® Deluxe is far easier to use than other label making solutions. Why? Because Label Factory Deluxe uses wizards to assist you in making even the most complex labels in just minutes. Simply stated, Label Factory® Deluxe is the fastest, easiest way to create professional-quality labels."

To take a look and place an order, click this link.

70% Off Clarks Men's Pyrite Adjustable Shoes, $23.99

For men looking for a nice, comfortable and casual shoe for some extra breathability during outdoor use, amazon.com has an offer on Clarks Pyrite Adjustable Shoe that you might want to check out. These retail for $79.99, but right now amazon is selling them for just $23.99. That's a savings of $56.00, or 70%.

They only have larger sizes (11 to 14) in stock now, and the shoes come in tan, brown or off-white.

Clarks is a well-regarded brand of quality footwear. The Pyrite is a versatile go-everywhere, do-everything shoe for summer. It has a durable, double-stitched leather upper. The shoe features an innovative, airy cut-out design that lets feet breathe across the top and at the heel. There's a full lace-up closure with an adjustable toggle for a secure fit and easy on and off. The padded mesh tongue and collar offer added comfort and support. And the shoe’s cushioned footbed is designed to wick away moisture and prevent the growth of odor-causing bacteria.

For some comfortable footwear to use as summer winds down (and to have for next year), you may want to check these out. Just click the link below for more details.

Free Schick© Quattro© Titanium Razor or Razor/Trimmer

Hey, shaving's one of those things that have to be done every day, so any way you can keep those costs down is nice, no?

Schick© is offering free samples of their Quattro© Titanium Razor or Quattro© Titanium Trimmer just for the asking. All you have to do is visit their site, fill out some contact information and click on which of the two models you want to receive.

Once you submit the information, you'll receive your razor in four to six weeks. There's a limit of one sample per household, and the offer is good while supplies last.

Schick© has offered a couple of free samples for Titanium razors and trimmers over the last few months, and each time I've submitted, the freebie has arrived. So you can expect them to come through if you submit the info.

So to get your free Quattro© Titanium Razor or Quattro© Titanium Trimmer, click this link.

Now that's a sharp little deal!

Stride Rite Infant/Toddler Shoes and Sandals Up to 78% Off

Looking for some shoes or sandals for that special toddler or infant? Amazon.com has some nice discounts on the highly-regarded Stride Rite brand. They have a wide variety of styles on sale, with many discounted 60% and some as much as 78% off.

Examples include:
Infant/Toddler Sky Stage 2 Lace-Up (was $44.95) now $9.89
Toddler Angler Sandal (was $32.95) now $9.89
Infant/Toddler Popsicle Sandal (was $32.95) now $9.89
Infant/Toddler Argo Stage 1 Fisherman Sandal (was $32.95) now $14.89
Infant/Toddler Sky Stage 2 H&L Shoe (was $44.95) now $14.89

If you place an order over $25.00, these shoes are also eligible for free super saver shipping.

There are many more styles on sale, so if you'd like to take a look at the Stride Rite inventory, just click this link.

Saturday, September 27, 2008

Barbie Style Shoes and Slippers for Toddlers and Little Kids Up to 70% Off

Do you have a little girl who loves Barbie? Maybe a young granddaughter or niece? If they enjoy Barbie, they might get a treat by having some slippers or shoes with Barbie-style as well.

Right now, amazon.com is offering an array of shoes and slippers with Barbie's picture, monogram or related design, with prices as much as 70% off.

For example, the Barbie Toddler/Little Kid Western Boot, which sells for $32.95, is now on sale at $9.89. The Barbie Toddler/Little Kid Suede Skate Shoes, normally $27.95, is also now $9.89. They have pink slippers for girls, regularly $4.50, now selling at $1.99.

If your order goes over $25.00, amazon has free shipping available.

There's a nice little array of different type of shoes, so if this might put a smile on a little girl's face, you can check them out at Barbie Style Shoes and Slippers.

Like T.G.I.Fridays? Coupon for Free Appetizer or Dessert Plus One-Time Front-of-the-Line Pass

If you like eating out at T.G.I.Friday's, here's a deal to make your next meal just a bit more satisfying. You can sign up on-line for their Give Me More StripesTM Program, and they'll send you a coupon good for one free appetizer or free dessert.

Also, as a reward for joining, you'll get a one-time pass you can use to get to the front of the line. This is one to use when you're out and you don't want to wait a ton of time for a table. Another way to make your trip to Friday's a bit more relaxing and enjoyable.

Members of the club receive stripes for every dollar spent, and when you've spent $100 you get a coupon for free food up to $8. They also plan to have special member benefits such as complimentary welcome tastings, beverage upgrades and preferred seating/parking.

There's no cost to join, so even if you just use the initial benefits, it's getting you the free appetizer/dessert and no waiting when there's a crowd. If you ever patronize T.G.I.Friday's, it sounds like a no-brainer to sign up for this one.

To check it out and sign up, click this link.

Friday, September 26, 2008

Patriotic Stars and Stripes 1GB MP3 Player $12.99

Looking for a cute little MP3 player that's got a bit of a patriotic feel? Buy.com is selling the Zvue 30906 Spirit 1 GB MP3 Player--Preloaded with 15 Patriotic Songs for just $12.99, along with free budget shipping. It has a stars and stripes design evocative of the U.S. flag that's sure to be eye catching.

It's a very compact and handy player with a 1-inch backlit LED screen, that supports MP3, WMA, and WAV audio formats, so it's ready for your music collection. It features seven equalizer presets so you can choose one suited to your taste, along with shuffle and repeat features. The device supports ID3 Tag so you've always got song info at your hands, as well as Lyrics file (.LRC) support for displaying lyrics (third-party Software needed). It has a rechargeable Lithium-Ion battery.

The player is also capable of voice recording -- the Spirit's built-in microphone lets you record memos, lectures, meetings, or whatever else you need in WAV format. It also features a built-in speaker for when you feel like sharing your tunes out loud.

The Spirit comes in a limited-edition aluminum case with original artwork, and also includes a protective silicone cover, ZVUE headphones, 3-foot USB cable, and AC adapter.

The 15-preloaded songs are:
"I Feel Good" by James Brown
"Back in the U.S.A." by Chuck Berry
"Sweet Home Alabama" by Lynyrd Skynyrd
"Drive South" by John Hiatt
"XXX's and OOO's (An American Girl)" by Trisha Yearwood
"Fly Like an Eagle" by The Neville Brothers
"Rocky Mountain Way" by Joe Walsh
"Takin' Care of Business" by Bachman-Turner Overdrive
"Simple Man" by Lynyrd Skynyrd
"Rock and Roll All Nite" by KISS
"(You Can Still) Rock in America" by Night Ranger
"America Is My Home (Part 1)" by James Brown & The Famous Flames
"Free Bird" by Lynyrd Skynyrd
"Some Gave All" by Billy Ray Cyrus
"God Bless the U.S.A" by Lee Greenwood

All in all, a very nice little MP3 player that would make a great little accessory for yourself or a great gist item for someone here or even a gift to someone overseas.

To take a look and order one (or more), click the picture below.

Zvue 30906 Spirit 1 GB MP3 Player--Preloaded with 15 Patriotic Songs

Thursday, September 25, 2008

Storytime Collection Princess Castle Playset 70% Off at $29.99

For the young girl who likes to let her imagination go into castles and storybook tales, eToys is offering a special price on the Storytime Collection Princess Castle Playset. It retails for $99.99 but they have it on sale for just $29.99, along with free shipping.

The two-level castle features a working drawbridge, a secret bed that folds down out of the wall, and a portable, fold-up design for fairytale adventures on the go. It measures 31.75"L x 10 .5"W x 35.5"H when assembled.

The playset includes:
- Rapunzel doll
- Sleeping Beauty doll
- doll's dress
- six interchangeable castle windows
- movable stairway
- 3-piece furniture set
- poseable horse with silky mane and tail
- steering reins
- carriage with wheels

If you want to check out this set lets your girl recreate enchanted fairytale adventures, click this link.

Promo Code for 50% Off The North Face Items at BackCountry Outlet

Gearing up for the upcoming winter? The North Face is famous for great, warm attire that helps you battle the elements. BackCountry Outlet has a clearance on many items from The North Face with savings ranging from 30% to 50% off the retail price. But they have a special promotional code you can use that gets you 50% off the original retail price for any item.

For example, they have the Ruko Men's Jacket, regularly $128.95 on sale for 30% off at $90.26. But by using the promo code at checkout, you get 50% off instead, making your price $64.48, and extra savings of over $25.00.

The promotional code doesn't just apply to clothing items, but you can even pick up rugged tents from The North Face at half off!

And they have free economy shipping for any order over $50.00 as well.

The promo code to enter at checkout is 37A-1-G0XND. When you get to the checkout page, there's a link below 'payment methods' which says "Redemption code? Cick here to redeem" and enter the code in the pop-up window. You'll see the savings applied to your cart.

To go to the BackCounty Outlet and see their selection of items from The North Face items, click this link.

Half-price on clothes and outdoor gear to keep you warm on cold, winter days. That's pretty hot.

Wednesday, September 24, 2008

Free Flights on Ryan Air On Sale Till September 25th

If you happen to be in Great Britain between October 1st and November 15th, here's a deal that might let you take a nice trip to a number of cities throughout Europe. Ryan Air is selling tons of seats for free for travel during that period. The special promotion expires midnight London time on Thursday, so if you want to take a look you have to book these by 7:00 p.m. EDT September 25th.

Examples of routes on sale include London-Milan, London-Venice, Liverpool-Stockholm, Birmingham-Pisa but there are plenty more.

Ryan Air has printed out a sheet that shows the various city choices and whether they have lots of seats, which are moving fast and which have very few available -- that should help if you want to plan one of these journeys.

Keep in mind that Ryan Air charges a fee to process the reservation and payment on-line, as well as a fee to check in at the airport (non-European passengers can't check in on-line). They also have fees for checked baggage so you would want to travel light to keep your costs down.

But still, despite the restrictions and fees, this might be a way to make a sweet side trip to a great European city without breaking the bank.

To see the spreadsheet showing the status of various roundtrip ticket availability, click this link.

To go to the Ryan Air website to book travel, click here.

Azamara 12-Night Western Mediterranean Cruise -- Inside Cabin $999, Oceanview $1199

Looking for a way to enjoy Europe in a dazzling way? How about a 12-night cruise through some of the beautiful ports of the Mediterranean? CruisesOnly is offering a package aboard the Azamara Journey for twelve nights with inside cabins at $999 and oceanview at $1199. Balcony cabins are $1399 if that would enhance your trip even more. These prices are for a November 21st sailing.

With the dollar/euro exchange as it is, this is a great alternative to paying for hotels in each city while allowing you to see many spots while enjoying the cruise experience.

I have friends who recently took a Caribbean cruise on the Azamara line and they were raving about the quality and the service.

The cruise departs from lovely Barcelona and visits the following cities:
- Marseille (Provence), France
- Monte Carlo, Monaco
- Portofino, Italy
- Florence, Italy
- Civitavecchia (Rome), Italy
- Cartagena, Spain
- Malaga, Spain
- Cadiz (Seville), Spain
- Gibraltar (U.K.)
- Barcelona, Spain

For the next six days, they are also including bonuses of between $300 and $600 of on-board shopping (depending on the cabin category), along with a $25 credit for on-board spending toward shore excursions and the like.

If you think this might be an adventure worth grabbing, click this link for more details.

Buy One Get One Free on Sears Craftsman Garden Stick Tools

Getting ready for that autumn lawn clean-up? If you need some new tools to help, Sears has an on-line promotion for stick tools within their Lawn & Garden department of Buy One, Get One Free.

They have 30 tools available in this promotion, including a wide variety of shovels, rakes, hoes, edgers and other useful garden implements.

To save on shipping costs, you can purchase tools on-line and arrange for in-store pickup.

Also, if you're ordering more than just a couple of tools and the pre-promotion total would be over $50.00, before the B1G1 free discount is applied, use coupon code SWELCOME0258 to save an extra $5.00 on your order (hey, it pays for the gas for you to go pick-up your tools).

To see all the tools available and see if you want to order any, click this link.

Free Cold Stone Creamery 3 oz. Make-a-Wish® Creation September 25 5-8pm

It's not too cold for ice cream yet, is it? Of course not! Cold Stone Creamery makes it easier to savor some wonderful frozen goodness by offering free 3 oz. Make a Wish® Creations September 25th between 5:00 pm and 8:00 pm.

If you've never tried Cold Stone Creamery, they're known for luscious ice cream into which you can add other goodies that get mixed in, such as berries, mint cookies, cheesecake or many others in a large variety of choices. Your ice cream turns into a wonderful combination of tastes and textures.

To see all the details of the promotion and also to find a nearby location, click this link.

You know the kids will love it; maybe you'll be tempted yourself!

Tuesday, September 23, 2008

For That Young Scientist/Explorer: Smithsonian's Build Your Own Erupting Volcano Kit $9.99

Have a youngster who's interested in science and exploring the world? Or maybe you'd like to trigger some more interest in the subject in a fun way? How about getting them a kit to build an erupting volcano?

Buy.com is offering Smithsonian's Build Your Own Erupting Volcano Kit for just $9.99 with free shipping. That's half off the retail price of $19.99.

This volcano set provides hours of explosive and educational fun for little scientists. Kids can mold their own volcano and drop in an eruption tablet to create a realistic volcanic reaction. The set comes with everything needed to build and erupt a mini-volcano, including detailed instructions and protective safety goggles. Adult supervision recommended.

It also includes an interactive CD-ROM, which features the same content found in the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History, teaching about volcanoes and creating computerized volcanic models and eruption simulations. So children can walk away not just with the fun of making an erupting volcano but also a deeper knowledge of these awesome wonders of nature.

To take a look and see if this would make a nice gift for that inquisitive young mind, click the picture below.

Smithsonian: Volcano-Erupting Kit with CD-ROM

Free Courses On-Line from Stanford Engineering -- Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence and Electrical Engineering

For the first time in its history, Stanford is offering some of its most popular engineering classes free of charge to students and educators around the world.

Stanford Engineering Everywhere (SEE) expands the Stanford experience to students and educators online. A computer and an Internet connection is all that's needed. You can view lecture videos, access reading lists and other course handouts, take quizzes and tests, and communicate with other SEE students, all at your convenience.

SEE is launching its on-line program by offering one of Stanford’s most popular sequences: the three-course Introduction to Computer Science taken by the majority of Stanford’s undergraduates, and seven more advanced courses in artificial intelligence and electrical engineering.

The current course offerings include:

Introduction to Computer Science:
- Programming Methodology CS106A
- Programming Abstractions CS106B
- Programming Paradigms CS107

Artificial Intelligence:
- Introduction to Robotics CS223A
- Natural Language Processing CS224N
- Machine Learning CS229

Linear Systems and Optimization
- The Fourier Transform and its Applications EE261
- Introduction to Linear Dynamical Systems EE263
- Convex Optimization I EE364A
- Convex Optimization II EE364B

These obviously aren't for everybody, but if it's in your field or something you'd like to pursue, it might be worth checking out. To get more details and enroll for the free courses, click this link.

Free Bob Dylan MP3 at Amazon Till September 29th

If you're a fan of Bob Dylan and can't wait to get a taste of the not-yet-released album "Tell Tale Signs: the Bootleg Series Vol. 8," you can get a head-start right now for free!

Amazon.com is offering a download of the album's leadoff song, "Mississippi (Unreleased, Time Out of Mind)," two weeks before you can get it anywhere else. And if you download the MP3 by September 29th, it's free! Not too shabby a deal, eh?

To get your download, click the link below.

iPod Compatible Travel Kit by Cables to Go $12.99

Update September 28th -- Checked on the price today and it's been cut another dollar to $12.99.

If you like taking your iPod along on trips, you know it can be tricky to keep all your cables organized and ready for use. Cables to Go has a travel kit made to bring along all your iPod essentials. Right now, buy.com is selling this travel kit for $13.99, a savings of $46.00 off the retail of $59.99. Buy.com includes free budget shipping too.

The kit is meant for 4th and 5th generation iPods (the travel and car chargers do not work with 1st, 2nd or 3rd generation).

This travel kit features:
- Convenient Travel Case
- AC Travel Charger
- DC Car Charger
- USB 2.0 Sync/Charge Cable (0.8m)
- FireWire Charging Cable (0.8m)
- Earbud Headphones (1.2m)

If this works for your generation iPod, why not make your next trip just a bit easier to organize? To take a further look, click the image below.

iPod Compatible Travel Kit by Cables To Go

7" Screen Text-to-Speech GPS System $124.99

Update November 1st -- the price has dropped $5 further to $124.99.

I've posted a few deals for GPS systems, an accessory I've used to make many trips easier and less stressful. Most of the deals have been for the small screen portable systems which I've found handy. But for anyone who's looking for a unit with a larger screen for a bigger view of maps (and the ability to have other video functions), here's a system you may want to check out.
Buy.com is selling the Plenio VXA-3000-2G 7" Touchscreen GPS Navigation System for just $129.99. Budget shipping is free.

Larger screen units of digital devices typically are more expensive than smaller screens, so this looks like a nice price point -- it would be a fairly good price for a 3.5" screen system.

Besides GPS functions, this unit has lots of other uses built-in. It has MP3 capability like many of its smaller cousins, but because the screen is big enough, it can also be used for video and gaming purposes when it's not being used as a GPS. That could come in handy keeping the kids entertained during rest stops on a long trip.

This GPS system features:
- Slim, lightweight design
- Large 7" Touchscreen LCD Panel
- Accurate highly responsive GPS receiver
- U.S. and Canadian Maps on 2GB SD Card
- Easy to use: simple touch screen interface
- Turn-by-turn voice guidance available in multiple languages
- Text-to-Speech pronounces street names
- Automatic re-routing: quickly recalculates during route deviation
- Smart detour: calculates detours around traffic jams at the touch of a button
- Automatic zoom feature: map level adjusts according to vehicle speed
- 2D and 3D maps supported plus day /night view settings
- AV input port: can be used as in-car display for DVD players, gaming devices, etc.
- DIVX Video Player, audio player, photo slide show, puzzle game supported
- Built-in Media Player
- Built-in Music Player
- Wireless FM transmitter (listen to your music over your vehicle stereo speakers)
- Automatic startup and shutdown

This feature-set is a step up from many of the smaller units, and the bigger screen may make navigating those trips a bit easier to follow. If this sounds like a system you might want to check out, click the picture below.

Plenio VXA-3000-2G 7

Monday, September 22, 2008

Kingston 4GB microSDHC Card with Two Adapters $13.99 Shipped

More and more digital devices are using microSD size cards to store lots of your items, whether photos, music files, videos or the like. With higher amounts of memory needed there's also been a trend to SDHC (high capacity) cards to work in compatible devices. If you own a device or two that can accommodate SDHC and could use a card that fits microSDHC, miniSDHC or full size size SDHC you might want to check this one.

Buy.com is currently selling the Kingston 4GB microSDHC Card with Two Adapters for just $13.99. Budget shipping is included for free, so that's your final price. That's a lot of memory and flexibility for not too much money.

The card comes with the mini and full-size adapters so it can be used in a multitude of devices. It's a Class 4 device so it has transfer speeds of 4MB/second so your data will load quickly. And I've written before that the Kingston brand is renowned as a top name in the field of memory cards.

Again, this is meant for devices specifically designed for SDHC; it won't work to add additional memory if your device uses just the SD specification. But if your device uses SDHC, here's a way to take advantage of the speed and higher capacity for a song.

To check it out, click the picture.

Kingston 4GB microSDHC Card With 2 Adapters - (Class 4)

Sunday, September 21, 2008

Navigon 2100 GPS System with Text-to-Speech and Reality View $99.99 After Rebate

Here's a very nice price on the Navigon 2100 GPS system, which is one of the GPS systems I've used and with which I've been quite pleased. Staples if offering this item for $119.99, and there's a $20.00 rebate (paid as a Visa debit card) making the final net a nice $99.99. The price and rebate are valid for purchases until September 27th.

I've liked this unit for the text-to-speech, which tells me the name of the road on which to turn, as opposed to just saying "turn left here." On some highways, I've also found the reality view helpful -- it displays an image of the road signs at major highway intersections or exits so you can anticipate the lanes of the highway you should be steering toward.

When I bought the unit (Black Friday 2007) it also included a lifetime traffic subscription, but that isn't included in the price here. But it's optional if you want to add it on, as well as a Fodor's review service if you want to have it help with restaurant reviews of nearby places to eat when you're traveling.

The Navigon 2100 features:
- Preloaded maps of the continental US (lower 48 states)
- 3.5" full color LCD touch screen
- Text-to-speech provides clear driving instructions with actual street names
- Reality View™ provides photo-realistic 3D view of complex highway interchanges
- Speed Assistant displays your speed and can warn you if you exceed the limit
- Millions of points of interest

I think it's a nice package at this price point, so if you're looking for a GPS for yourself or as a gift, click here to check it out.

Saturday, September 20, 2008

Ten Ways to Avoid New Airline Fees

Most of us have watched over recent months as airlines have begun imposing fees on items that have heretofore been free. Some airlines are now charging you to check even one bag. Most are charging for in-flight meals, and some even for non-alcoholic beverages including bottled water. Some airlines charge you if you want to reserve a window seat or an aisle seat... the list goes on.

I first noticed these on discount airlines like Spirit, about whom I've written often on the blog. I didn't mind it with them so much since they were a discount airline, and I figured the airfares were low enough that the add-ons still kept the whole deal as a bargain. But now the practice of charging these extra fees has been spreading to the major airlines.

For an upcoming trip in Europe we used flylc.com (see my blog post about them) to find some discount travel between various European cities and were dismayed at all the extra fees. We were able to trim some by making arrangements in a way that lets us leave some of our baggage at someone's home so we can make our intra-Europe travel with less baggage and check just one bag.

We booked an upcoming trip in the U.S. and were able to find a carrier that doesn't charge for the first bag to be checked, so that was a bit of savings.

But I just ran across an article originally written by the people at Sherman's Travel and published on msn.com that lists ten ways to avoid some of these new fees.

Here's a summary of their tips:
1. Get a lightweight carry-on bag and carry on all your items if possible
2. Check any bags wisely to avoid any overweight fees
3. Join frequent flyer clubs -- elite members may waive baggage fees
4. Don't pay premium for your seat type; check-in on-line 24 hours ahead
5. Pack comfort items such as neck pillows, and bring a sweater
6. Bring your own headphones
7. Bring some items to eat
8. Pleasantly complain about the charge for a soft drink; they may waive it
9. See if your hotel will reimburse you for airline bag-check fees
10. Fly Southwest which is still abstaining from fees like these.

I wrote a blog post a while back about traveling in more comfort using some carry-on items like noise-canceling headphones, a comfortable eye patch, neck pillow and the First Class Sleeper inflatable seat pillow. They really help make it through some coach travel with less aggravation.

If you'd like to read the whole Sherman's article at msn.com, here's the link.

Free Admission to a Disney Park on Your Birthday in 2009

Planning a trip down to Disneyland or Disney World next year? If it coincides with a birthday for someone in your family, you can register in advance and get his/her admission for free that day. If you have twins, you can double the fun!

They require proof of birthday upon admission, and the offer doesn't provide a refund for that day if a multi-day ticket or pass is purchased for a longer period in which the birthday falls. But for some families visiting a Disney theme park, this could be a way to save some money.

Details and registration can be found at this link.

Friday, September 19, 2008

All Puma Shoes $29.95 or Less at 6pm.com

Looking for some athletic footwear for men or women? You might want to head over to 6pm.com, where they have a sale on all Puma sneakers and shoes. Until September 26th, all styles are $29.95 or less. Puma has many great styles so you're sure to find some that will look great while you're running, playing sports or just taking a good, healthy walk.

What I found useful at the 6pm website is that you can enter your size and then narrow your search to the styles in stock in your size. That's much nicer than when I've gone to other shoe sites, found a style I liked and then clicked only to find my size was out of stock.

You can also narrow your search by categories such as leather, lace-up, low-top, casual, athletic, retro, gym... they have almost 1300 styles in the sale so it'll be fun looking.

Shipping is $6.95 unless you buy over $100 worth, in which case shipping becomes free.

To look at this big selection on sale, click All Puma footwear $29.95 or Less at 6pm.com! (sale ends 12 am PST 9/26/08).

Otto OT-5 Noise Canceling Headphones $19.99

I've written some posts about ways to be more comfortable when flying on planes, and one item which I think comes in very handy is noise canceling headphones. I've used this for the past few flights I've taken and they've really made a difference. They've reduced the loud low drone of the planes to a milder hum, reduced or eliminated the sound of babies crying, and allowed me to listen to my music or watch the movie with more comfort.

If you're a very frequent flyer, it might be worth shopping for one of the very high-end brands such as Bose. But those can cost $250 to $350, so for infrequent flyers they're probably too much for just a couple of flights a year. If that's your situation, here's a pair you might want to consider. Buy.com is selling the Otto OT-5 Noise Canceling Headphones, which retail for $89.99, for just $19.99 right now. They also offer free budget shipping for this item.

They feature:
- Folding design allows user to fold them flat & take up less space
- Active noise reduction
- 40mm neodymium driver
- Noise reduction: -13dB
- Sensitivity: 96dB
- Freq resp: 20 Hz-20 KHz
- 3.5mm connector
- Up to 60 hours of use with required AAA battery
- Includes Headset, travel pouch and airline adapter

If you want to check these out and see if they'd make your next trip a bit less stressful, click the picture below.

Otto OT-5 - Noise Canceling Travel Headset

Thursday, September 18, 2008

Kingston 2GB Flash Drive $7.99 plus Free Shipping

Flash drives are so handy when you need to bring files between computers, whether from home to school, home to office, one PC to another or on the road to make presentations. If you're on the lookout for one with 2GB of capacity, buy.com is offering one from Kingston for $7.99. It's the 2GB DataTraveler 110 Flash Drive.

DataTraveler 110 contains room for plenty of photos, graphics-intensive documents, videos, spreadsheets, presentations, term papers, and music that can be stored and retrieved in a flash. It's a sleek, practical and attractive design and features a retractable USB connector for ease of use and safe housing.

To check it out and see if it's for you, click the picture below.

Kingston 2GB DataTraveler 110 USB 2.0 Flash Drive

Kingston 2GB SD Card $7.29 with Free Shipping

A couple of days ago I posted about a Kingston SDHC card for devices that specifically use the high capacity secure digital cards. But if your device uses the standard SD cards, here's a nice price on a 2GB card from Kingston, who are among the leaders in digital memory cards. Buy.com is offering Kingston's 2GB SD Card for just $7.29, with free budget shipping included.

That's a nice price for a lot of memory for your digital camera -- you could take hundreds of photos on this one card and not have to bring several on a trip. If your MP3 player uses SD cards, this would let you load tons of music.

To check out all the specs and see details, click the picture below.

Kingston 2GB Secure Digital SD Card

Brother PT-80 Thermal Electronic Label Maker $12.79

Keeping things organized is always a challenge with all the various papers, folders, files and boxes we seem to accumulate. A nice label maker can help keep things attractively organized, and right now, buy.com has cut the price on the Brother PT-80 Thermal Electronic Label Maker. It retails for $49.95 but until September 21st they are offering it at a low $12.79, with free budget shipping thrown in.

This label maker gets good reviews from users at the buy.com site. You can print (non-laminated) labels in 3/8” & 1/2” wide. It prints labels in 6 type sizes, 9 type styles and 1 font for all different labeling needs. All you have to do is type in your text and print. At the touch of a button, you can also add date and time to your label, with a choice of 8 different formats.

The PT-80 also gives the option of selecting from 71 symbols, and includes 5 auto formats and 5 framing options. Along with its easy-to-view, 12-character LCD display and easy-to-use typewriter style keyboard, it features raised keys for more accurate input. It prints 1 to 2 lines of crisp text, and can add text framing and underlining.

The PT-80 comes with 1/2” Black on White “M” starter tape and User Manual.

So if a label maker would help organize all those file folders, boxes etc. and you'd like to take a look, click the picture below.

Brother PT-80 Thermal Electronic Labeling Printer

Free Pocket Constitution and Declaration of Independence

It never hurts to have a good knowledge of history, and that includes the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution. Right now the Heritage Foundation is giving away for free a pocket size version containing both documents. They even pay the postage.

They even have a space to order multiple copies for groups who need a bunch for a specific purpose. But if you'd like to get one for your son, daughter or yourself, you can sign up for your own free copy.

To register to receive your pocket copy of these two major U.S. documents, click this link.

Wednesday, September 17, 2008

Restaurant.com Promo Code - 60% Off - Valid Until September 21st

The folks at restaurant.com have unveiled their latest promo code, giving you an additional 60% savings off the dining savings you get when using their certificate.

Regular readers of the blog know that many restaurants around the country offer certificates giving you $25 of dining credit for just $10 (and some restaurants also offer $10 certificates for lunchtime for just $3). These certificates usually have some restrictions about number of diners, minimum check or similar but they're fairly simple to meet. So these certificates can result in having a nice dinner at a much lower price than you'd pay otherwise.

They occasionally release promotional codes so the certificates cost much less, and the current code is FESTIVE, valid for certificates you buy by September 21st. That may mean there'll be another certificate for even higher savings later in the month, but there's no guarantee.

Using the promo code means you can buy a $25 certificate for $4, or a $10 certificate for $1.20.

To check out the restaurants available (you can search by state or zip code), click here. And don't forget to use the promo code at checkout and click 'apply' so the savings show up in your shopping cart before you check out.

Steve Madden Shoes on Sale Up to 77% Off at 6pm.com

If you are a fan of Steve Madden shoes, 6pm.com has a sale that might let you pick up some stylish pairs for a lot less than usual. From now through September 23rd they have over 800 styles on sale for up to 77% off. Many are in the range of half-price and many also in the 60% range.

Finding the styles in your size is a bit easier at 6pm.com since you can narrow your search by size and width -- and then shop only those styles they have available in your size. Takes out the time-consuming process of looking for what you like and clicking on it only to find your size isn't available.

I've ordered from 6pm.com a couple of times and been pleased both times with the speed of delivery and the quality of the shoes.

To take a look at all the Steve Madden styles they have, click Steve Madden Men, Women and Kids Shoe Sale.

Tuesday, September 16, 2008

Free Viewing of TV Shows on Demand from Amazon

If you like to watch some of your favorite television shows at your convenience, it's nice to find a service that lets you do it for free. Amazon.com is offering a video-on-demand service, and they have a bunch of fan favorites you can check out at no cost. Zero. Nada. Free.

Among them are full episodes of some of TV's most popular series, such as The Office, 30 Rock, Heroes and Lipstick Jungle. They also have the first episode of the new season of Til Death, plus features on a lot of the new shows. There are behind-the-scenes looks, previews and more.

If you enjoy watching some TV and would like to take advantage of these free on-demand episodes, you can click Free TV Episodes on Demand.

Hey, it's free, baby

Monday, September 15, 2008

Sex and the City - Complete Series DVD Set Now $99.99 at Amazon

Update September 16th -- the price at amazon is currently at $124.49, still a nice savings from the $299 retail -- just not as low as when I first posted. As I write this, other sellers on amazon have it as low as $110 new and $69.99 used.

If you adore the adventures of Carrie and the girls in Sex and the City (or you're looking for a gift for someone who does), amazon.com is currently selling the complete series on DVD for just $99.99. That's a whopping $200.00 off the $299.99 list price.

To compare, other sites on the web have prices running around $235 (Media Dungeon) and $269 (JR.com) so this is a nice price if you want to add the whole series to your library and not wait till they rerun your favorite episodes (with cuts and commercials) on TV.

You get all the episodes from all six seasons, complete and uncut, contained in a beautiful pink storage case.

Amazon may not hold the price at this level for long, so if you're interested, click the link below.

Kingston 4GB High Capacity SD Card $11.97

As memory needs on our portable devices get greater, the cards get quicker and hold more memory. If you have a device that can use SDHC (Secure Digital High Capacity) cards, here's a very nice price on a card by the well-regarded Kingston name. Buy.com has dropped the price on the 4GB SDHC card to just $11.97, along with free budget shipping.

Features include:
- Class 4: 4 MB/sec minimum data transfer rate
- Compliant with the SD Card Association card 2.00 specification
- Secure built-in write-protect switch prevents accidental data loss
- Compatible with SDHC host devices; not compatible with standard SD devices
- File Format FAT 32
- Reliable lifetime warranty

To ensure compatibility, look for the SDHC logo on host devices (cameras, camcorders, etc.). If your device uses SD cards, this won't work unless the device is specifically capable of SDHC as well.

To take a further look, click on the picture.

Kingston 4GB Secure Digital High Capacity Card (Class 4)

Saturday, September 13, 2008

Cruise Special on Orbitz - Up to 75% Off Plus Shipboard Credits - 4-Night Cruises from $139

If you enjoy cruising or would like to give it a try, Orbitz has a sweet promotion going on from now through October 6th. They have a wide variety of cruise destinations on an array of different cruise lines specially priced, with some as much as 75% off the original price. Many of them also come with shipboard credits or savings booklets to make your trip even that much more of a deal. Some include cabin upgrades too.

There's a four-night cruise on Royal Caribbean for $139, and a four-night on Carnival (including a 2-category upgrade) for $149. But if you prefer cruises on other lines, they have specials on names like Crystal, Azamara and Cunard as well.

The variety is out there, so if a cruise might be a vacation you'd like to consider, click below to be taken to the Orbitz special. Although the sale is good through October 6th, the sooner you book, the better your chance to get the best cabin deal possible.

Fall Cruise Sale - Special Offers Exp 10/6/08 (300x250)

Free Emergency Radio When You Register at ProtectAmerica.org

With emergencies so much on our minds today and the last few weeks, it's not a bad reminder to have our supplies and gadgets ready in case of problems. Right now, protectamerica.org is giving away a free emergency radio just by registering on their website.

The site has lots of information on emergency preparedness as well. The link to click for registering for the radio is at the top of the page, and they basically just ask for name and address plus e-mail information.

To register for your free emergency radio, click this link.

Mystery Fans: The Complete Nero Wolfe DVD Megaset 60% Off at $39.98

If you love mysteries or know someone who does, you might be interested in the A&E bestseller Nero Wolfe. Right now they've cut the price on the complete series megaset from $99.95 down to $39.98, saving 60%.

So you pay less for the complete series than if you bought just the DVD set of Season 1 or Season 2 alone.

You can experience every single episode of one of fiction's greatest sleuthing partnerships, an original A&E whodunit classic. Snappy dialogue, clever intuition and good old-fashioned legwork are their tools of trade. Murder, deception, blackmail and more are the crimes they solve. Along the way, gourmet feasts are brilliantly prepared, prized orchids are lovingly tended, and so many femme fatales come and go they seem to be falling out of the sky. It all adds up to an unforgettable confection of mystery, suspense and style.

The megaset features all 20 episodes plus the bonus feature-length series pilot, The Golden Spiders.

To take a look and see if this will tickle your mystery itch, click this link.

American Airlines Fall Sale -- New York City from Pittsburgh or Charlotte $59 Roundtrip; Other Cities On Sale Too

If you're looking for some autumn (or even early winter) travel, you might want to do some checking at American Airlines. They've announced a sale on airfares, with some of the following routes on sale:

Pittsburgh - New York (JFK) $59 roundtrip
Charlotte - New York (JFK) $59 roundtrip
Milwaukee - Washington, DC $69 roundtrip
Atlanta - St. Louis $84 roundtrip

Airport and security fees are in addition to these airfares. Travel is valid through January 28, 2009, with the following blackouts: November 22, 2008, November 25-26, 2008, November 29-December 1, 2008, and December 18, 2008-January 5, 2009. Lowest sale prices are for travel on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Saturdays, and tickets must be purchased at least 10 days before departure.

They have tons of other routes on special, so if you have any travel plans coming up, click this link and see if American can fit the bill.

Hawaii Roundtrip from $465 -- Lowest Airfares from Yuma AZ

Want to take a getaway to Hawaii? Travelocity has unveiled a fare special through United Airlines with fares as low as $465 roundtrip to Honolulu. They have a variety of departure cities with different fares, and the lowest price trips are available from Yuma, Arizona. The fare from Spokane, Washington, is $491 roundtrip.

Several California Airports such as San Diego, Sacramento, Ontario and Orange County are $505; Nashville, Tennessee is $562 and New York City is $576 roundtrip.

These fares don't include the additional airport/security fees. Tickets must be issued by September 16, 2008 and travel is valid through November 19, 2008. A 14-day advance purchase is required.

To check out all the fares from different cities or to book your flight, just click Low Prices on Paradise: Fly Round-Trip to Honolulu From $465 on United Airlines! (Expires 09/16/08)

Friday, September 12, 2008

Kingston 2GB microSD Card $5.00 with Free Shipping

If you could use a microSD card with a good memory capacity for your cell phone or other digital device, you can pick up a 2GB card direct from Kingston for just $5.00. And they have shipping for free, so that's your bottom-line price.

Kingston is one of the highly regarded names in digital memory so to get a good-capacity card from them at this nice price is a sweet little deal. This is specifically for a microSD card only; it doesn't include any adapters if you need to use it inside a device that needs full-size SD cards.

If you'd like to take a look, click this link.

Express Coupon $15 Off $30 Purchase, or $30 Off $75

For those of you who like to shop at Express or Express Men, here's the latest coupon for some extra savings. The coupon is valid until September 17th for in-store purchases (not for redlined merchandise), or if you shop on-line you can enter on-line promo code 5883 (or 5066) for the same savings. They have a $15 discount if your purchase is $30 or more, or a $30 discount if your purchase is $75 or over.

To print out your coupon for shopping there over the next few days, click this link.

Timberland Sale Plus 30% Off Coupon Code

If you like good quality shoes and outerwear for some rugged outdoor uses, you know the Timberland name. And right now, they're having a clearance sale with many items reduced 25%-50%. There are items for men, women and children at reduced prices. But you can also get additional savings on top of their clearance prices with a coupon code for the September Fall Special.

If you apply code TBLEXPO3 during checkout, they'll take 30% off your order, so you can be getting some items as much as 65% off. The expiration date is unknown, so you may want to take advantage soon.

To look through their sale, click Timberland Sale.

400-Thread Count Egyptian Cotton Sheet Set - King or California King Size $21.28

If you like sleeping on sheets with luxurious thread counts and have a king-size or California-king bed, you may want to pop on over to amazon.com. They are selling Pinzon Luxury 400-Thread Count Egyptian Cotton Sheet Sets for just $21.28, a reduction of 82% from the retail of $120.00.

Unfortunately for those of us with queen-size mattresses, they haven't dropped the price on that size right now, so this deal is just for the two largest sizes.

They have a variety of colors available in stock, but the price might not stay low for long so if this is a fit, you might want to hurry.

These sheets feature:
- 100-percent Egyptian cotton in a 400 thread count; machine washable
- wide array of colors
- adorned with 4 simple pleats for a fabulous decorative touch
- King includes 118"x102" flat sheet; 78"x80"15" fitted sheet; 20"x40" pillowcases

To check them out, click Pinzon Luxury 400-Thread Count Egyptian Cotton Sheet Set

Thursday, September 11, 2008

Kingston 2GB Flash Drive $8.49 with Free Shipping

If you've ever have the need to bring files from one computer to use at another (bring homework assignments to finish at school, bring files to a store to get them printed, make presentations at a client's office) then a nice USB flash drive can make it easier. Right now buy.com is offering Kingston's 2GB DataTraveler DT100 for just $8.49, and they include free budget shipping.

That might be less than the cost of gas alone if you drove to a store to pick one up.

Kingston is one of the highly respected names in memory devices, and the ones I have bought have always worked well for me.

This unit has a simple and safe design, with its USB connector safely housed inside the sleek case, so you don't have to worry about losing a cap. The DataTraveler gives you plenty of room to hold just about any document, from term papers and theses to digital images, spreadsheets or other important documents. Kingston backs it with a five-year warranty.

To take a further look, click the picture below.

Kingston 2GB DataTraveler 100 USB 2.0 Flash Drive - 2 GB - USB

Wednesday, September 10, 2008

Spirit Airlines Roundtrips as Low as $4 for Club Members; as Low as $22 for Non-Members

I've written a few times about Spirit Airlines and their occasion ridiculously low airfares. For those of you new to my blog, I was able to fly roundtrip on them from Atlantic City to Las Vegas for two cents one time! Lately they've restricted most of their most special fare sales to members of their $9 Fare Club. The special they have going on today has special prices with great fares for $9 Club members, but some still nice prices even if you're not a member.

Seats are limited at these special fares, and they offer the special prices for specific dates, but if you can pair up dates you can get very low-priced roundtrips.

Membership in their club is $29.95 so adding that to a fare might make it worthwhile just to take advantage of the better prices. If you happen to live in/near some of their service cities and might be able to take advantage of their routes several times (i.e. you live near New York and have reason to go to Myrtle Beach or Fort Lauderdale occasionally), you might be able to use them a few times and save way more than the cost of your membership. And if you live anywhere near Fort Lauderdale (their main hub), it's almost a no-brainer to join since they have tons of specials from there, not just in the U.S. but also the Caribbean.

Some of the specials available for booking by midnight tonight include:

Columbia SC to/from Fort Lauderdale: 9/16, 9/21, 9/23, 9/26, 9/28, 9/30
- for Members they have $3 seats each way; for non-members $11
Fort Lauderdale to Freeport, Bahamas: 9/18, 9/19, 9/22, 9/26, 9/28, 9/29
Freeport, Bahamas to Fort Lauderdale: 9/14, 9/15, 9/19, 9/21, 9/22, 9/25
- for Members they have $2 seats each way; for non-members $11
Atlantic City to Fort Lauderdale: 9/30, 10/16, 10/27, 11/16, 11/17, 12/16
Fort Lauderdale to Atlantic City: 10/8, 10/11, 10/17, 11/27, 12/4, 12/16
- for Members it's $7 each way; non-members $23

Airport/security fees are additional to these fares as with any airline ticket. Spirit also charges for bags checked as some of the major airlines have started to do as well (boo!).

Spirit won't work for everyone everywhere (they're mostly East Coast although they do go to Las Vegas and Los Angeles), but if you happen to be able to use their routes, they may be worth considering for some bargain travel.

To check out all the fares available for booking by midnight tonight, September 10, click this link.

Tuesday, September 9, 2008

For That Young Scientist: Telescope and Microscope Set $12.49

Know a youngster who is starting to get into science and would appreciate a telescope and a microscope? Boscov's has reduced the price of the Famous Trails Telescope/Microscope Set from $49.99 down to just $12.49.

This set includes a 50MM tabletop telescope with 2-piece tripod and 2X viewfinder. It also has a 19-piece microscope accessory kit with a 100X/400X/900X microscope.

So whether they'd like to look at tiny objects more closely or like to bring faraway objects closer in view, this could stimulate youngsters' imaginations and interest in the world around them.

To check it out, click the picture below.

Famous Trails Telescope/Microscope Set

McCormick & Schmick's Seafood Restaurant - $20 Off in September

If you love seafood and enjoy eating out at McCormick & Schmick's (or if you've never tried them before but might want to), they have a promotion going on for the month of September entitling you to $20 off your dinner.

You make a reservation on-line and attach the reservation (or write the number) to an on-line coupon. That's it. Just like that, $20 comes off the bill when you present the dinner certificate. It's valid through September 30th, limited to one coupon per table.

Oh, even if you're not a seafood fanatic, the offer is valid if you order a steak or one of their other menu items.

To check out the certificate and make an on-line reservation click this link.

$19.95 on All DC Shoes and Boots for Men and Women at 6pm.com

I like the way 6pm.com runs sales on shoes. They just take one uniform price and apply it across a whole brand of shoes. So you end up getting some great savings on some that have been reduced a ton. Since you don't have to compare prices on ones you might be interested in, you just get to shop by style. Plus they let you search by size so you can see what's available in one fell swoop. Their sale last week on Skechers worked well for me, and my wife took advantage of a sale they had on Naturalizers when those were all reduced.

Right now they have put a nice low price across the DC Shoes line. These are sporty shoes, with snowboarding boots, skate shoes and running/athletic shoes. They have plenty of styles for men and women, with savings up to 93% off! (The Allegiance 08 Men's Boot is reduced from $325.00 down to $19.95). Many of the shoes and boots are reduced 75%-90%.

Shipping is $6.95, but if you order over $100 it's free.

To check out the boots they have for men and women, click this link. (It will say men's snowboarding boots, but they also have men's rugged boots and women's boots on this page as well.)

Right now they have about 450 styles of men's shoes reduced. To check out men's shoes, here's the link.

Women have over 370 styles at the moment, which can be found at this link.

Remember, at the top of the page, you can select the shoe size/width to narrow your search and see what's in stock that fits you.

Solar Backpack Charger $29.99 After Rebate

In yesterday's blog I posted about a solar charger you could use to keep your devices powered even if you're away from a regular electric source -- or maybe if you just wanted to move a bit more away from using the electric grid. Here today is another way to recharge your cell phone, iPod, or similar small devices. It's a solar powered backpack by Av Lab, and buy.com has cut the price from $119.99 to $39.99, with free budget shipping. Plus, for purchases until the end of the year, there's a $10.00 rebate bringing the final cost down to $29.99.

Yes, this backpack is integrated with a solar charging solution. The solar bag absorbs sun light energy through its solar panel and turns it into electric energy, which will be stored in its rechargeable battery. This stored energy is yours when you need it, so you can even recharge your device at night from sunlight collected during the day.

The charger is compatible with most small mobile devices through corresponding connectors.

Embedded in the outside of the bag is a lightweight, tough, waterproof solar panel which will generate up to 2.7 watts of power. Included with the backpack is a battery pack which stores the generated power. If needed it can also be charged using an AC travel charger or car charger (both included). Ni-MH battery charges in 6-8 hours (via solar) or 2-2-1/2 hours (via a/c charger) and has a maximum output of 5.8V DC (400mAh) and a capacity of 1200mAh.

The bag itself also features:
- large cavities for books or extra clothing when traveling
- front-zippered accessory pouch including elastic lanyard
- multiple pockets for your cell phone, PDA, MP3 etc.

Not only can you be doing a bit more toward using alternative energy, your backpack can let everyone know you do! To take a further look, click the picture below.

Av Lab Solar Backpack Charger

Monday, September 8, 2008

Universal Solar Charger for Mobile Devices - $19.99

Maybe you use your cell phone, iPod or other mobile devices in places where recharging is difficult or inconvenient, like when you go camping, hiking, etc. Or maybe you'd like to use a bit of solar power to ease the need for plugging in to the power grid and save a bit of the environment. Either way, you might want to check out the Soldius1 Universal Solar Battery Charger now on sale at buy.com. The retail price was $139.99 and they're offering it right now for just $19.99, including free budget shipping.

That's the low price you pay, no rebates etc.

Using Maximum Solar Power Tracking (MSPT) technology, it can recharge devices faster than conventional portable panels. It's small (5 inches), lightweight (4 ounces), and includes numerous attachment connectors, including a mini USB cable, 2 interchangeable iPod adapters compatible with Apple iPod, iPod nano, iPod Mini, iPod Shuffle, and 5 interchangeable mobile phone adapters compatible with Nokia, Samsung, Sony Ericsson, Siemens, Motorola and Blackberry. The cables are high quality Hitachi cables, with a flex end.

The Soldius1 solar charger provides 90,000 charges. That equals 5 charges a day, 365 days a year, for 49 years.

Wouldn't it be fun to go solar? Check it out by clicking the picture below.

  Soldius1 Universal Solar Charger for Mobile Devices

Mio GPS with Text-to-Speech $99.99

For anyone looking for a small GPS system with text-to-speech capabilities, whether for yourself, for a second car, or maybe as a gift, Staples is currently offering the Mio DigiWalker™ C230 for $99.99. That's a $50 price cut from its usual $149.99. Shipping is free. The price is good until September 13th.

Mio is one of the GPS brands I own and have used, and have been pleased with its performance. I own an older model which doesn't have text-to-speech, which I think is a useful feature (the second GPS I purchased it and it does make a difference). The C230 is just a GPS, it doesn't have an MP3 player built-in, but I have yet to use that feature on my older Mio.

But if just a straightforward GPS is something you could use, this model may fit the bill. To check it out, click this link.

Sunday, September 7, 2008

Family Specials to Tahiti - Free Flight for a Child with an Adult with Fares as Low as $1498 from LA; Children Stay and Eat Free at Le Meridien Tahiti

If you're looking for a family adventure, here's a trip that's sure to be memorable. You can all escape together to French Polynesia's white-sand and black-sand beaches on Air Tahiti Nui.

They have a promotion giving you a free ticket for your child 2-11 years old when you buy an adult's ticket. Prices for adult tickets start at $1428 including all taxes and surcharges, from Los Angeles to Papeete. They also have special fares listed to places like Moorea, Raiatea and Bora Bora. The child's ticket is free as far as airfare and fuel surcharge; only the airport taxes are applied for the child.

And if you want to take advantage of a hotel special for your family, Air Tahiti Nui is offering a Family Fun Vacation package that includes five nights at the oceanfront Le Meridien Tahiti, roundtrip airfare from Los Angeles and hotel transfers. Children 2-11 stay and eat free with this package, as well as getting the free airfare (other than the airport fees). It's available from $1,998 per adult for Wednesday and Friday departures.

These prices can be booked through the end of the year and are valid from November 1st to December 10th, 2008 and again from January 12th to May 31st, 2009.

This may be a dream vacation, but if it's a dream you have for your family, maybe this is a way you can make it come true.

To check out all the deals, click here for the airfare deals, and click this link for the hotel packages.

Saturday, September 6, 2008

Sportsman's Guide End of Summer Sale - Up to 79% Off Camping and Outdoors Gear

If you love being in the great outdoors, the season's not over yet. But you can take advantage of an End of Summer Sale at Sportsman's Guides and pick up some gear at outrageous savings. Some of them might come in handy for autumn trips, or maybe you want to get them for adventures next year.

They have all sorts of items, including tents, cookware, solar lights, fishing gear, beverage containers and many other useful outdoor items. If you're a vendor at flea markets and street fairs, they have a pop-up 10'x10' vendor gazebo for just $69.97. For campers they have a Guide Gear® Trekking Tent (Sleeps 1) reduced to $7.97. If you want to go fishing, there's a Storm Saltwater Combo Rod and Reel with Bonus Wild Eye Swim Shad for just $24.97.

They have so many other items reduced: outdoor furniture, a carport, a boat cover, fishing reels, wetsuits, boat towables... a lot of stuff for a lot of different outdoor activities.

There's also a coupon code SH783 that gets you $5.00 off their shipping costs.

If you're planning to get a few items (or just one or two higher-priced ones) they have a buyers club for 10% further savings. It costs $29.95 to join but they send you two $10 coupons, so depending on the items you may be able to save that way too.

Either way, if you want to see their sale specials, click this link.

Friday, September 5, 2008

2GB MP3 Player with Music, Pictures and Video $17.99

If you know a youngster who'd like an mp3 player but isn't ready for an iPod or other big-bucks unit (or maybe you'd like an inexpensive one for yourself), buy.com has a sale on an Ellipse 2GB player that offers video and pictures as well as music. It's reduced from a list price of $99.99 down to $17.99 with free shipping.

2GB is plenty of capacity for a lot of songs, but this one also comes with a small 1.8" screen that lets you watch videos or see photos as well. This may not be as much fun as bigger mp3 players with large screens, but it's also much smaller and portable than units with big video screens, and it's a lot less than you'd invest in a video iPod or a Zune. And if your kid lost it, you wouldn't be out a ton of money.

The unit also features voice recording and e-book features.

So if you're looking for an inexpensive way to get more in a small mp3 than just songs, you might want to check this one out. To see all the specs and features, click the picture.

Ellipse 2GB Video, Music, Pictures MP3 Player 1.8 LCD - Ellipse II

Active Noise Canceling Headphones $17.99

Update September 28th -- Checked on the price today and it's been reduced further to $17.99

I wrote a post in December about ways I do my air travel more comfortably, thanks to some gadgets that minimize the stress, noise and discomfort. One of the items I mentioned was noise-canceling headphones. These really tone down the loud drone of jet engines in your ears (and in the middle of your head) and let you listen to music, watch the movies or even just rest in relative quiet more easily.

Right now, buy.com has reduced the price of RCA HPNC500 Active Noise Canceling Headphones to $19.99, from the original retail of $99.99. They also include free budget shipping on these as well.

These headphones feature:
- 12dB Active Noise Canceling eliminates virtually all outside noise
- Deep, rich sound from 40mm driver
- Full-size earcups provide comfortable fit for long-term listening
- Swivel ear cups for easy storage in laptop cases
- Single-side cord entry keeps wires out of the way
- Airline adapter included
- Pouch included provides easy storage and protection on-the-go

There are higher-end headphones available for much higher prices, such as Bose headphones which go for $250-$300, that might make sense if you're a business traveler who flies continually. But for those of us who fly occasionally, headphones like these are an affordable way to make your next flight a little easier to take.

To take a look and maybe get a pair to have for your next flight, click the picture below.

RCA HPNC500 Active Noise Canceling Headphones

Thursday, September 4, 2008

Peachtree Pro Accounting 2009 Software Free After Rebate

Here's a whopping free rebate offer that gets you back $140 on accounting software that costs $139.99. So you get the purchase price back plus a penny (except for sales tax). The software is Peachtree Pro Accounting 2009, and the offer is valid at Staples for purchases by September 6th. Since the cost is over $50.00, you can even get it shipped free to your home.

This is a robust accounting solution that can really help with business operations. Features include invoicing and bill paying, basic inventory and analysis elements, tracking accounts payable and accounts receivable and more. It also lets you build custom reports for better information, hence better business decisions.

Here's the link to the offer at Staples.

If you're thinking of getting this, you might also want to spend a moment doing a search for coupons at Staples. The last time I got Peachtree, I was able to find a $25 off $150 purchase coupon, so by adding a second item of about $15 I was actually able to get the combined purchase for $10 net less than I paid in the first place.

But even if you don't use a coupon for combining the purchase, if you need accounting software you can get this for a net of free to give it a try and see how it works for you.

Coupons for The Limited: $15 Off $50; $20 Off $60 or $30 Off $100;

Like to Shop at The Limited? Here are some coupons that might make it just a bit easier the next time you go there.

There is one coupon that offers $20 off a $60 purchase or $30 off a $100 purchase. It's valid in-store but not for markdowns or cosmetics. This coupon has an expiration date of October 5th. Here's the link.

There's also a coupon with an expiration date of September 21st that gives you $15 off a $50 purchase. Also not valid on markdowns or cosmetics. Here's the link to this coupon.

Even if it can't be combined with savings on marked-down items, these still could come in handy if you shop there and want to pick up some of their current season fashions.

Wednesday, September 3, 2008

Life Insurance -- Prices Have Dropped

Life insurance. Boring subject. So I'll try to keep it short.

It's one of those details that we don't want to spend much time or thought on, but it's one of those things we sometimes do and then forget about. I recently checked for quotes for a new policy and was really surprised. The last time I had shopped for life insurance was six years ago. I expected that a new policy would be more expensive because of my increase in age, but I was hoping it wouldn't be much more.

But what I found was that I could get a policy for a higher amount and yet pay less than I was paying for the one I bought six years ago!

I used Select Quote for my policy comparison, but there are other companies as well that let you shop from a variety of life insurance providers.

Saving money on all those little life details can help your money go further. So even if you have a life insurance policy that you've had for a while, it might be worth a bit of your time to see what today's prices would bring.

Tuesday, September 2, 2008

2GB USB Flash Drive $5.95 After Rebate

If you are looking for a small USB flash drive with a nice memory capacity to carry around files, pictures, music or other data from your PC, buy.com has a nice price right now on the Dane-Elec 2GB zMate Pen Drive at just $10.95 with free shipping. And for purchases by September 8th, there's a $5.00 rebate, making the final cost just $5.95. That's a low price for a lot of memory.

The Dane-Elec 2GB zMate is ideal for students of all ages, traveling professionals and everyone who has a need to share a file or a photo with a friend. It even comes with a neck strap as an extra handy way to carry it around. And it comes with a USB cable for some added flexibility.

Features include:
- Compatible with USB specification revision 1.1 and 2.0
- Durable solid-state / data retention for at least 10 years
- Low power consumption
- Data protection via password
- AND or NAND Flash memory

The package includes:
- 2GB zMate Pen USB 2.0 Flash Drive
- Neck Strap
- USB Cable

If you could use a flash drive to make handling all your files just a bit easier, take a look by clicking the picture below.

Dane-Elec 2GB zMate Pen USB 2.0 Flash Drive - 2 GB - USB

Monday, September 1, 2008

Looking for an 8-Foot Pool Table? Sears Sale at $99.88 (Originally $799.99)

Here's a deal on an item that may not be something on everyone's shopping list, but if you are looking to get a pool table (or might want to get one if it's affordable), Sears has a deal that may be worth checking out.

Right now they have a deal on the Mizerak 8 ft. Bella Vista Slatron Pool Table, with the price available at $99.88. This isn't a 7-foot table that you might sometimes see as reduced in price, this is the full 8-foot size. This is a steep price reduction, since the original price was $799.99.

You actually order this in two components: the Bella Vista Rail & Leg Kit for $49.89, reduced from $700.00, and the 8 ft. Slatron Bed for $49.99, reduced from $99.99. And it's eligible for in-store pick-up so you can save on shipping costs.

The price is good until September 6th, but if this is something that you're looking for, you may want to get one early while they're in stock.

To take a look at the table they're selling, click this link.