Leather Laptop Bag Designed for Women On Sale $19.99

Many laptop bags look like traditional briefcases or messenger bags and may not be the most stylish items for women to carry. If you are looking for a different looking carrying case for your small (14" screen or smaller) laptop, here is one that may catch your eye and fit your style.

Buy.com has the Radian Soleil Fiona Laptop Bag on sale for $19.99. Their site shows an original retail of $129.99 so it's $110 off the original price. If you look on-line at places like eCost or overstock, it's selling for $53 to $60 rather than the $129, but $19.99 is still a great price compared to the other sites. Plus buy.com is shipping it for free.

Soleil bags are designed to be protective as well as stylish with the unique AirSHIELD™ gel impact protection system. The AirSHIELD™ system securely holds your computer in place, even inverted, and safely deflects those daily crashes, shocks, bangs, biffs and pops. Fiona is designed primarily as a business attaché while maintaining high standards for computer protection.

Here are a list of features:
- Stylish fabric body and leather trim
- Perfect for 14" laptop
- Pockets for files, mobile phone, pens, accessories and more
- Detachable/Adjustable Leather Strap
- Inside Zip Pouch
- Exterior Zip Pouch
- 2 Separate File Folders with Magnetic Closures
- Safe Laptop storage with security strap
- AirSHIELD™ gel impact protection system
- Water Resistant
- Metal feet for added protection
- Every bag individually inspected and serialized

So if a nice briefcase that looks a bit more stylish that the standard laptop bag would be a nice accessory, click on the picture below and check it out.

$10 Off $20 In-Store Purchase at Express, Express Men... Also $20 off $75 Purchase

For those of you who like to shop at Express, here is a nice little coupon to make your next trip a bit more fruitful. A printable coupon of $10 off a $20 purchase in the store. It can also be valid for $20 off if the purchase exceeds $75.

The coupon is valid until February 3rd and is limited to one per customer, for in-store use.

Here's a link to the coupon.

Every little bit helps!

Barry Manilow Concert Tickets As Low As $9.99 - Washington DC Saturday February 9th

If you live in or near Washington DC and want a chance to see a concert for a song, take a look at this offer.

Barry Manilow is playing the Verizon Center Saturday night, the 9th of February, and you can get tickets for $9.99! Really! Now they're not the best seats in the house; they're in the top tier of the arena. But if you want to enjoy listening and feeling the energy of the crowd, wouldn't it be a blast to see a show at this price?

To get available tickets (I'd hurry as they're sure to go quickly), click on this link. Then click on the red "Buy Tickets" image and a new webpage will open to search for tickets. On that page, change the price box from "Any Price" to $9.99 and put in the quantity of tickets to search.

I just did this and my search indeed came back with two tickets in Section 432. So they're out there... but who knows for how long?

Deals like these are music to my ears!

March Madness! NCAA Basketball Games on Your PC for Free!

If you're a fan of College Basketball, there's no better time than March, when the NCAA tournament creates all sorts of stories and stars, Cinderellas and dynasties, excitement and passion!

You can sign up for NCAA March Madness On Demand for free and get CBS coverage of basketball games streamed to your PC for free! Your can also see archives of saved games, highlights and recaps... follow the action any way you want.

If the championship tournament is your passion, why not take advantage of this great offer and see the coverage as never before? To sign up click this link.

Join the madness!

Gift for Golfers: Free Personalization on Golf Caps, Golf Balls

Know a golfer and want to make a special gift?

Now till January 31st, Golfballs.com offers free personalization on over 200 styles of golf caps, including name brands like Titleist, Callaway Golf, Nike, Mizuno, Cleveland, Bridgestone and many more. That knocks $5 off the listed price of their personalized caps ($3 on some lowest price ones), so if it normally runs $24.95 the new price is $19.95; if the regular price is 15.95 it's yours for $10.95... get the picture?

To get the free personalization, enter promo code MYCAP at checkout. The offer expires January 31st.

For a link to their selection of personalized caps, click here. The price shown is the pre-discount price, so your cost will be lower than those if you use the code.

Also, they are offering free personalization (a message up to three lines) on golf balls with the purchase of three dozen. They have a wide array of balls from many top manufacturers and a wide range of prices. To get those personalized free, enter the promo code MYWAY (also expires January 31st).

Here's a link to their golf balls for personalization.

Fore!

For Sephora Shoppers: Coupon Codes

If you shop at Sephora.com, here are some coupon codes that might come in handy...

Free metallic clutch bag free with $25 order with promo code JCPCLUTCH while supplies last.

Free shipping on a $25 order with promo code FAVORITE1 (until 1/31)

Free Shipping on Prescriptives Mascara with promo code ELASH (until 1/31)

Free Lip Gloss Ring on a $50 order with promo code RING while supplies last.

Hope these come in handy!

Got a Little One Who Loves to Dance? Strawberry Shortcake "Let's Dance" DVD with Dance Mat Just $5.92 Shipped!

If you have a young child who loves to dance, here's a little DVD that might be some fun. Strawberry Shortcake teaches your child how to dance in this DVD called "Let's Dance" that also comes with a Dance Mat inside.

Right now, Deepdiscount.com is offering this item on sale for $10.92 with free shipping. But if you type the promotional code 5WD20 into the box in your shopping cart, they take another $5.00 off the price, so the final total becomes $5.92!

Why, just the gas to drive to your local toy store to get one might add up to more than that!

Here's the link.

European Flights from $383 Roundtrip (+Taxes/Fees)

If a European trip is on your agenda over the next two months, Alitalia has a fare sale going until January 31st. Roundtrip fares start at $383 from the U.S. to European cities. These are base fares so taxes/security fees are additional). Still, that's not a bad fare for a hop across the ocean.

The lowest fares are from Boston (Frankfurt $383, Madrid $386), but they also have some good prices from Chicago (Barcelona for $394), and New York (Berlin $408).

The fares are valid for flights departing by March 31st, with a maximum stay of a month with a Saturday night stay.

So if Europe is calling, take a look at Round-Trip Flights to Europe starting at only $383.

A taste of the old world can be nice at this price.

Spirit Airlines $48 Discount Promo Code -- for Bookings Made Today and Sunday 1/27 for Flights through February 13th or From April 10 to October 31st

Spirit Airlines has unleashed another systemwide promo code, this one valid today and tomorrow (Sunday) for tickets booked on-line. Spirit has been on this blog numerous times for unbelievably cheap tickets (like one penny!) to certain destinations on certain days. Those are awesome and I love finding those. But these kinds of systemwide discounts can help people who travel to/from some of the cities that don't always make those incredible fare lists.

This offer is valid for travel on flights between January 29, 2008 and February 13, 2008 or flights between April 10, 2008 and October 31, 2008. All you have to do is enter SAVE48 (all caps) in the Promotion Code box on the home page when booking your flight. You will then receive $48 off your roundtrip purchase when booking a qualifying flight!

Hurry, this offer is only available January 26, 2008 through 11:59 PM EST on January 27, 2008!

I've flown Spirit and while they are a discount airlines and you pay extra for some things like on-board snacks, checked bags etc., they can really make a quick fun trip a reality by not denting your wallet too badly.

So if you want to see about maybe making that quick trip to escape the winter blues, why not take a quick trip to their website and see what prices you might score?

Restaurant.com Promotion Code for 60% Off ($25 Dining Certificates for $4.00) Mmm...mmm...good!

One of the most popular of the deals about which I post is back again. Restaurant.com, the great site that lets you buy dining certificates at a wide array of restaurants, has a promotional code valid until January 31st that takes 60% off the already reduced cost.

A certificate for $25 worth of dining credit usually goes for $10 but with the promotional code it's just $4. Yes, you get $25 off your check for just $4! Some restaurants offer $10 certificates, generally for lunchtime; those usually go for $3, so now they're just $1.20.

The list of restaurants can be search by zip code or state, and there is a really vast variety. Most certificates have restrictions on the minimum number of diners, the total amount of the pre-certificate check, sometimes excluded days or whether drinks are included in calculating minimums. But the restrictions aren't generally obtrusive, and can make an evening out at a special restaurant that much more affordable. You can try a new place, revisit an old favorite, send certificates as gifts, use them while travelling...

You can also send out gift certificates that aren't restaurant-specific... the recipient can go onto the website and pick the particular establishment at which they'd like to use their certificate.

60% off isn't the lowest I've ever seen -- it's been 70% a couple of times -- but if you have some dining evenings coming up, this may be a chance to let your dollars stretch a bit further.

Oh, yeah, the promotional code: EASY. Don't forget to hit the 'apply' button so the discount is taken off your order.

Yum!

Awesome Webcam with Big Rebate: Logitech QuickCam Ultra Vision SE 1.3 Megapixel $33.99 After Rebate (Regularly $124.99)

If you are looking for a high-end webcam with great resolution, there's an offer you may want to focus in on... Logitech's QuickCam Ultra Vision SE 1.3MP Effective Pixels 960 x 720 30fps webcam. Right now, ClubIT is offering a sale price of $25 off along with two rebates totalling $66, so you get a whopping $91 off the original $124.99 price tag.

The resolution on this webcam is well beyond the typical camera you'd find at even higher prices than your final cost on this one. I use a Logitech QuickCam Ultra Vision with a more standard resolution that this one and have been pleased with that model. I can only imagine how much sharper this one would be! They indicate that it produces HD quality: record high-resolution (960 x 720) video at 30 frames-per-second.

FedEx Ground Shipping is $5.50. The rebates are good for purchases made by February 2nd, but if you're in the market, I'd hurry as these might sell out before then.

Click Quick Cam Ultra Vision SE for the link. Improve the quality of your webcam projects without burning a hole in your wallet.

Today Only: L.L.Bean Super Deluxe Sling Back Backpack Just $8 (Regularly $29) -- Plus Free Shipping Code

L.L.Bean has long been known for the high quality of their gear. They have a special Thursday Markdown for an item they sell until midnight or until it's sold out. If you're looking for a well-designed sturdy backpack, you may want to look quickly!

It's their Super Deluxe Sling Back, regularly $29, marked down today to just $8. And if you add code 1027000 at checkout they even include free shipping!

The backpack has a compact style with roomy pockets and an organizer panel with key clip. The single crossover strap allows for comfortable hands-free carrying while evenly distributing the load on your back. Cord port and interior storage sleeve are ideal for an MP3 player and earphones. Constructed from durable water-resistant polyester ripstop. Bottom reinforced with tough 1,000-denier nylon. Padded back panel. 3M® Scotchlite® reflective strip for nighttime visibility.

So if you want to check it out hurry to Sling Back Backpack.

Big Clip-Art Collection Free After Rebate (with Free Shipping)

If you (or your children) like to do graphics and artwork on your PC or Mac, such as designing original greeting cards, making cool mats to frame your photos or similar projects (or even website design), clip art can come in very handy. But handy is even better when it's free. And right now Buy.com has a rebate on ClipArt & More 3.5 Million software that lets you have an amazing assortment of images at your disposal.

The software has a ton of high-quality, royalty-free illustrations, photos, fonts, sounds and animations available for Windows or Mac. They cover a wide variety of categories so you should find items to enhance almost any type of project. They also include a free 1 Year Subscription to iCLIPART.com for even more graphics.

The regular retail price is $49.99 and buy.com has it on sale for $33.00. There are two rebates totaling $33.00 -- to get the full price back, your purchase has to be between today and January 31st.

If the idea of some free new design tools appeals to you, click on the package below.

15-Day Transatlantic Cruise for $599! Really!

If you're a fan of cruises or want to try a different way to visit Europe, this may be one to look at: a 15 night cruise on Norwegian Cruise Line's NCL Jewel for the genuinely low fare of $599! Now that's for an inside cabin, which may be confining for a long cruise, but they also have outside cabins for just $699 and a balcony room for the still low $849!!

For 15 nights, these prices are less than $40 a night inside cabin, under $50 a night outside and under $60 a night balcony!

The sailing is for April 20th, departing Miami. It stops in the Azores (Ponta Delgada), Portugal (Lisbon), Spain (Vigo and La Coruna), Ireland (Waterford) and England (Guernsey and Dover).

All that would be left is getting a flight back to the States...

And as if those deals weren't enough, if you book it by January 30th at the Cruises-N-More website, they will add in an onboard coupon book worth $150, and a 3-category upgrade.

Plus if you wanted to take 2 additional people and travel four to a cabin, it would be just $399 for those passengers in all categories. That might make a suite another possible way to go (first two people would be $1299 each so the final total would average down to about $850 apiece).

The Cruises-N-More site has lots of other cruise choices, but this transatlantic 15-day one jumped off the page as a bargain.

If you'd like another way to get to Europe and enjoy the cruise experience, this may be worth checking out.

Here's the link.

Anchors aweigh!

Amazing Fares East Coast to Asia! NY-Beijing $741 ($399+$342 Taxes/Fees)! NY-Hong Kong for $618 Total! Many Cities, Great West Coast Prices Too!

It's always amazing when you can fly across the U.S. and then across the ocean for what you'd expect to pay just from the other coast. Recently I found LA-London for $444. Now the specials are going westerly, such as New York to Beijing roundtrip for a final total of $741 ($399 is the actual base fare)! New York to Hong Kong roundtrip starts out with a higher base fare of $403 but the taxes are lower so the final price is just $618!

Orbitz has a page promoting special fares going on from many U.S. cities to places throughout Asia. New York-Beijing is one of those specials, and I checked to verify it could be booked travelling February 19th and returning the 26th, on United, via Dulles. (Dulles-Beijing has a final total of $727 with the same $399 base fare.) The same dates get the low fare for NY to Hong Kong, with a stop in San Francisco.

New York-Taipei has roundtrips as low as $643. Shanghai also has some special deals.

From the west coast you also get some awesome fares, such as Los Angeles to Hong Kong for a final price of $503, Los Angeles or San Francisco to Beijing for $626, San Francisco to Beijing for $514, SF to Taipei for $539...

The webpage has lots of other fare combinations but sometimes the prices shown are higher than these. The best fares for flying are usually found midweek so I generally search for Tuesdays, and under search options I include the choice to search one day before and after.

Theses special prices require departure by February 29th, so it'll still be a bit chilly when you arrive. But if you've always had a hankering to visit Hong Kong, Beijing or other great cities in Asia, this may present a unique opportunity.

Here's the link to the Orbitz page for Asia specials.

One more tip: if you want to see if you can maximize your savings even further, after you find a fare on Orbitz, go to the airline's own website and put in the exact same criteria (dates/cities) to see if you might be able to save more. On the NY-Beijing, the total price at United.com was $10 less (I'd presume those are Orbitz booking fees you're saving). But you could save even a bit more if you went to ebates first and then clicked on United.com. You'd get an extra $2 back via ebates and a 500-bonus mile supplement for frequent flyer. So your final net would be down to $729 for NY-Beijing and some extra miles! For some people sticking with Orbitz is worth the convenience but there are ways to save even a bit more this way. If you haven't yet joined ebates, click here and start getting extra cash back at many stores. Till February 14th you get a $10 credit just for joining!

Why not take a look at Orbitz to see if that special vacation is in your reach?

3 Pre-Seasoned Cast Iron Skillets for $14.99 -- Free Shipping Code If Order Over $25

Some cooks swear by cast iron for their skillets... it heats quickly and evenly, and also simmers slowly. Right now J.C. Penney is offering a three-piece set of pre-seasoned cast iron skillets for a low price of $14.99 (regularly $39.99). There are three sizes, for a variety to cooking needs -- 6-1/2", 8" and 10-1/2" sizes.

There's also a code available for free shipping on orders totalling over $25, promo code AAJANFS. So if you buy two sets (or buy a different item that brings the total to $25) you can get the shipping free.

Here's the link.

Cook yourself a bargain now to cook up some gourmet meals later!

Spirit Airlines $40 Discount Promo Code -- Valid for Trips Booked 1/22

I've posted a few times about Spirit Airlines' unbelievable special fares... like my 2-cent roundtrip to Las Vegas... or times you can get fares for several dollars or less. A lot of those are for very specific dates or just on a limited number of seats. So unless those special dates match your travel needs you may not be able to take advantage.

This time, Spirit is offering a special promotional code valid through midnight January 22nd which gives $40 off a roundtrip fare. That way you can find your specific travel needs and then apply some savings... not too shabby.

The promo code is SAVE40 (all caps). It's valid on flights from January 23rd through February 12th and then again for flights from April 8th through the end of October.

Make sure to enter the promo code to activate the discount in the price.

Click here to go to Spirit. They have some fun destinations, so why not take a look?

A Lot of Memory in a Little Package - 8GB Flash Drive $30.99 with Free Shipping

I've posted a few deals on flash drives (those great little units you plug in so you can carry your files, pictures and more from computer to computer). Most of the great deals I've found thus far were in the 1GB, 2GB and sometimes 4GB range. But if you've got some really big files or tons of music, photos or videos you want to be able to back-up or move with you, how about 8GB?

Right now supermediastore.com has a PQI i261 8GB USB Flash Drive for $30.99 and they throw in ground shipping for free too. That's a nice price for an awesome amount of memory.

If you want to look, click the link.

Bright Effects Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs 78% Off at Lowes - Save Energy!! And Money!!!

Over the last couple of years, there's been a big spark of interest in compact fluorescent bulbs. These are the ones that look a little weird, sort of spiral-ey ad fit into the sockets of lamps that had been taken incandescent light bulbs. They emit just as much light as the higher-wattage incandescent bulbs using much less energy. Saves electricity, and maybe makes a dent for the environment.

You usually expected to pay a premium for these bulbs, making up the extra cost in the energy savings over time. But how about a chance to get the bulb for not much more (if anything) more than the price of an old-fashioned bulb?

Right now Lowe's has a sale on Bright Effect 13-Watt Mini Compact Fluorescent Bulb until January 21st. When you click on the on-line link for the bulbs, the website shows the regular price of $4.48. But if you enter your zip code, it will change the price to 98 cents for stores that have it. Now some of he stores are sold out, as was the nearest to my house when I tried, but it gave me a choice of other nearby stores to check and the second closest showed them in stock for 98 cents. That's over 78% off the standard price!

So click on the link and see if your local Lowes (or the next one over) has them at this great price.

Isn't it good when you can do things that are good for the environment and your wallet at the same time?

Free Schick Quattro Titanium Razor

A deal for a free razor always sounds good, doesn't it? Even if it's not your regular brand, you can throw it into your airport toiletries bag and make your packing that much easier. Or maybe you'll give it a try and decide it beats your current shaver... if it's free, it's a heck of a lot easier to take a shot.

Schick is giving away Quattro Titanium razors while supplies last. They feature 4 titanium blades plus one edging blade for sharper trimming.It just requires entering your address and e-mail info on-line, and you can choose whether or not to have them send you promotional information.

So if you'd like to pick up a new razor for free, go to the Schick Quattro Titanium Promotion.

Shave some bucks off the cost of some of your next shaves!

For My Fishing Buddies... 5 Fishing Baits for $5.00 ($17.50 Value) with Free Shipping/Handling!

I know a few of my readers like fishing, so here's a nice treat to help you get ready for the next season. BassPro.com is offering a season-opening special of five baits for $5.00 including shipping. The normal value of these is $17.50, so it looks like a nice deal to add to your fishing gear.

Click here for the link.

Take a look and reel in the savings! You hooked?

Care for Your Fine Wines - Cuisinart "Private Reserve" Wine Cellar at Half Price

You've bought some great bottles of wine, or gotten some as a gift. Isn't it worth maintaining them at the right temperature so they're at peak taste when you finally open and savor them?

Having a full wine cellar isn't a reality for many of us. But right now Office Max is offering a Cuisinart "Private Reserve" Wine Cellar for just $75.oo, which is half the regular price. Since it's more than $50, Office Max even throws in the shipping for free (no lugging it from the store to your car, no gas to drive there... woo-hoo!)

The unit is fairly portable so you should be able to find a nice spot to house it and hold some of your nice wines. The specs say there's no vibration which is good for storage of wines, and says there's no noise. It has an electronic thermostat, eight pre-set temperature settings for wine, temperature readout and more.

Click here to read the specs and see if it's right for you.

The next time you try that special red or white, you may think this was a grand investment!

Restaurant Weeks - New York City - Haute Cuisine at Bit More Affordable - Give Your Palate a Gift!

A while back I wrote about a special San Francisco treat of fine dining at special menu prices the second half of January. Well, taste buds in New York can rejoice too, as many restaurants in the Big Apple launch their own special menus. These top rated restaurants offer special three-course (appetizer, entree and dessert) prix-fixe menus at a fraction of what you'd pay normally.

Lunches during this promotion are $24.07 and dinners are $35.00, not including tax, tip or beverages. Now to many people those prices may not sound like bargains, but for restaurants of these caliber you could expect to pay double or triple these prices... these are really special places with special meals!

The promotion takes place from January 21st to 25th and again from January 28th through February 1st. There's a long list of restaurants on-line with the ability to even book reservations over the Internet.

If you live in or near New York, or are travelling there for some reason, you may want to take advantage of this opportunity to try a restaurant you've always imagined but weren't sure you could afford.

The on-line site is here.

Live a little!

Tip on Finding Sales Inside Websites

One of my fellow frugal readers alerted me to this tip... thanks, K!

Some on-line stores have links or tabs you can click to see their clearance items and see what might be available at lower prices. But many sites don't have a link or spot specifically labeled. My reader let me know that at sephora.com (which doesn't have a specific spot), she types the word "clearance" into the search box and it takes her to a page that shows all the items that have been reduced for clearance. I gave it a try and voila, up popped a page that lists all the sale items.

I've tried it at other sites and the results are a bit mixed, sometimes you get results and other times you don't. But if you have some favorite on-line stores where you shop occasionally, you might want to type in a clearance search and see if they line up the special deals for you.

Hey, if the savings are there, wouldn't you want to know about them?

Update/Upgrade Your PC Protection with McAfee Internet Security Suite (3 User) Free After Rebate

Staying ahead of the curve with anti-virus, firewall, spyware and related protection for your computer is fairly essential for the health and safety of your important data, files and even the PC's functionality. Most of you probably have some level of anti-virus software running on your PC, and here's a chance to update it or upgrade it free-after-rebate.

This one is particularly nice if you have more than one PC to protect, as this version is licensed for installation on up to three PCs.

I have been using McAfee for a number of years and by buying their software at times when rebates coincided, I've been able to keep it updated and upgraded for free (if you didn't buy new versions and just bought renewals of their service, it could cost $30-$60 a year -- if you ask me, taking advantage of rebate periods and having it free beats spending that money any day!)

Right now is one of those rebate times. Buy.com has already slashed the price by more than half, from $69.99 down to $30.00. Provided that you have some anti-virus, firewall, anti-spyware or similar software already (whether an earlier version of McAfee or a competitor's product such as Norton's, CA, Kaspersky etc), you can mail in a rebate and get $30 back, meaning the final cost is free. Even the shipping is free, so your out-of-pocket cost will end up being the stamp to mail in your rebate info.

Here's a description: McAfee's Internet Security Suite 2008 with SiteAdvisor is a proactive 10-in-1 always-updating security bundle that protects what you value with multi-user child safety, identity theft prevention, email and IM protection, and automated back-up. It blocks and removes viruses and even stops them before they get to your PC. It also protects and conceals your computer from hackers, and blocks spyware before it installs on your computer and removes existing spyware. It improves PC Health by cleaning clutter off your computer so it stays healthy and secure and guards your identity from online fraud scams and identity thieves. It shields you from spam and also filters offensive content, pictures and websites. It also performs an automated back-up and one-click restore to protect your photos, music and important files.

If you can upgrade for free, why not strike while the iron is hot? Click on the McAfee image below for information and ordering.

Own Formal Attire instead of Renting It Again and Again... Jos. A. Bank Sale on Tuxedo Jackets, Reduced from $395 to $59!

Update February 6th -- The prices are a bit higher than the January 31st drop -- the black velvet is back to $59, and the striped velvet is at $49.

pdate January 31st -- The prices have dropped for the ones they still have in stock. The striped velvet dinner jacket is now $36.25 and they have a big assortment of sizes, the black velvet is $44.25, and the Blackwatch Plaid (40-Long only) is $51.75.

Even in this era of dressing down, there are still occasions when it's worth dressing formally. Whether for that wedding, that special party, to class up your look for New Year's Eve... If you keep a Tuxedo in your closet, you're not running out worrying about renting one every time. And maybe you'll wear it more often than if you would've had to rent one, meaning you look classier and impress everyone all that more often.

Jos. A. Bank's current sale may make that more do-able: they dropped the price on several formal jackets by about 85%. These look to be stylish jackets which will impress that special lady you're escorting to the event and probably turn a few heads while you're there.

Among the jackets they have are:

Their Black Velvet Dinner Jacket, reduced from $395 to just $59!
Their Black Stripe Velvet Dinner Jacket, also from $395 to $59!
Their Blackwatch Plaid Dinner Jacket, reduced from $395 to $69!

Wouldn't it be nice to look like big bucks without spending big bucks?

Sale on SD Cards at Newegg! With Free Shipping! 1GB $5.49, 2GB $9.99

Digital cameras, Digital picture frames, MP3 players, PC files... having some extra memory cards seems to be necessary with all these new devices bouncing around. Right now Newegg.com (a vendor with whom I've been pleased on all my orders) is having a sale on a variety of SD cards. They all ship free so the price you see is the price you pay.

They have the Transcend brand 1GB card for $5.49. Other brands in the 1GB size are also available from $6.49 to $8.99 for a micro SD with an adapter. They have 2GB cards like the A-Data starting at $9.99.

The selection is varied but you may want to order before some models go out-of-stock. These prices are sure to attract attention.

Here's a list of the cards showing the lowest priced ones first.

Now if I could only figure out how to put some more memory in my head to remember where I left that piece of paper...

Light-Up Soccer Ball $9.95 with Free Shipping!

If your children like playing soccer, it's probably tough when dusk comes early and they have to call it quits. How about letting them stretch out their fun with an illuminating soccer ball? Deepdiscount.com has a sale going on, cutting the price from $29.95 to $12.95, with free shipping.

And if you apply the coupon code 3VF03 at checkout, another $3 comes off the price, making the final $9.95 shipped to your door!

Batteries are even included at this price! The site states that the ball is regulation size, weight and feel, with excellent grip and performance, and LED lights inside illuminate it. So it could provide your youngsters (or you adults energetic enough to play soccer) a great way to enjoy the game a little longer.

Click Light-Up Soccer Ball to check it out.

GOOOOOOOOOOAL!

Free 5x7 Brushed Silver Finish Photo Frame with Magnetic Backing

If you'd like to pick up a small picture frame just for the asking, the American Association of Orthodontists is offering one just for the asking. It's 5x7 and has a magnetic backing, with a brushed silver finish. It has a caption "More than a Smile" written across the bottom right corner, along with a small imprint of their website braces.com.

You don't have to be getting braces to qualify, just register your e-mail address and mailing address, plus answer a couple of minor questions (including whether you're considering getting braces and whether you want to get the names of local orthodontists). After that they send you an e-mail to confirm your address and poof, you're done.

To register click here.

Men's GoreTex Waterproof Hiking Shoes Cut from $79.99 Down to Just $15.98! And Special Promo for 99 Cent Shipping!!! At Your Door for $16.98!!!

A nice rugged shoe can always come in handy during winter-time and also be great for outdoor activities, hiking and such. Right now, Blair.com is offering the Northlake GoreTex Waterproof Hikers, originally $79.99, on clearance for $15.99. But even better, if you use the link below, you get it shipped for just 99 cents instead of the standard $4.99. Getting them to your door for just $16.98!!!

They have a separate code offer for 15% off clearance items, which would make the price $13.59. But shipping would be $4.99 so the total would be higher. Still, I'm going to put in the link for the 15% in this post too, because the 99 cents is per-item, and if you decide to buy some more stuff while you're there (or even several pairs of these hikers), the 15% savings may trump the shipping discount.

I've ordered from Blair a couple of times and have been pleased with the quality of items and the prices I found. It does seem to take them a week or so to get your order shipped out, but with savings like these I can afford to wait a bit.

These boots have a waterproof Gore-Tex lining to keep moisture out, but also allow perspiration to escape because it’s breathable. They're lightweight and have rugged leather/mesh uppers. Other features are padded tongues and collars, padded removable footbeds with arch supports, dual density polyurethane midsoles, steel shanks and oil-resistant outsoles. They look like an item with quality well beyond what you could normally find at this price.

To get the lowest delivered price for just the boots, click Blair.com: $.99 Per Item Shipping then put Northlake in the search box. The boots should come up in your search and you can place your order.

If you see other items to get together with this and 15% off the order is better than the 99 cent shipping, click Blair.com: Additional 15% OFF Clearance Items and then put Northlake in the search box. The boots should come up in your search, and you can shop for other items. The discount won't show up in your shopping cart, but as you go through checkout there will be a note that your 15% has been applied.

If you're interested, I'd hurry before too many sizes sell out -- many in the 10-11 range are gone already. I ordered a pair and am already wondering if I shouldn't have gotten a second!

Free Sample of Pravda Vodka - Must be 21 or Older

I've seen plenty of free samples for cleaning products and soaps, but how about one for a taste of vodka? Right now Pravda is offering to send a miniature sample along with a brochure explaining how vodka is made.

The registration process is easy and straightforward, just entering your name, address and e-mail. It's valid in the U.S. only and void where prohibited. If you like vodkas and want to give this brand a taste, wouldn't a free sample be better than buying a bottle?

No drinking and driving, please.

Click here to register for your Pravda Vodka Sample.

Cheers!

Entertainment Books -- Take the Better Savings, Your Choice of $10 Off or 35% Off, Both with Free Shipping

Entertainment Books come filled with coupons for tons of local restaurants, shops and services, giving you lots of chances for savings throughout the year. The books are filled with menus and discounts for fine dining, loads of coupons for casual dining and fast-food, plus entertainment options. There are more categories than I could list. Travelwise they can also offer you bargains not just in a list of hotels where you can get discounts, but also by buying books for another city and having the price covered using just one or two coupons in the right spots.

Using the Entertainment Book actually led me to one of my favorite restaurants in the area, a Moroccan restaurant with great food and atmosphere (I live in an area where you wouldn't expect to find a Moroccan restaurant). I hadn't even known they existed, but flipping through the book one night trying to find something different or unique I came across their menu listing. Not only did we have a great time at a great price, we had a new favorite place to go out.

Right now for the month of January, Entertainment Books has two side-by-side offers going on, and you can choose the one that fits you best.

Get 35% off the retail price of all 2008 Entertainment books. Get Free Shipping too! This offer works better for the more expensive cities/areas where 35% adds up to over $10 in savings.

Or Get $10 off and FREE Shipping with the purchase of any 2008 Entertainment Book! Filled with discounts on everything! For some of the less expensive books, the 35% off wouldn't add up to the $10 so this would be the better option for those.

Either way, you get free shipping to stretch the savings. The books are sure to give you access to lots of savings opportunities throughout the year, so why not start the ball rolling taking advantage of savings on the Book in the first place?

Get Ready for Cold Weather - Men's Outerwear Jackets Up to 80% Off at Amazon

Well, today may not be a good example (it got to around 70 degrees near Philadelphia, felt like Spring), but there's still cold weather ahead. If you could use a stylish and warm jacket to help get you through some of that bluster, why not take a look at Amazon's current sale?

They have up to 80% off on a wide range of jackets in lots of styles and degrees of warmth.

Among their offers are
Free Country Solid Soft Shell Jacket, originally $90, now $22.50
Free Country FCX Performance Jacket, orig. $90, now $22.50
Kenneth Cole Reaction 3-in-1 Jacket, originally $250, now $62.50
Marc New York Canyon Microtwill Midlength, orig $250, now $59.99
Marc New York Wool Duffle Coat, originally $450, now $99.99

For a bit of luxury at more reasonable prices they have items like
Marc New York Brando Lamb Jacket Shearling Collar, orig $650, now $159.99

There are more jackets than I could possibly list so if you want to see more of their selections click on the link below.

Men's Winter Jacket Sale

On one of those chilly mornings ahead, you'll be glad you did.

More Power! 50 Batteries (40 AA, 10 AAA) $10.99 with Free Shipping!

With all the small gadgets we have in our lives now, from cameras and music players to powered toothbrushes and remote controls, batteries are essential to have around. So how about a deal that lets you really stock up without draining your wallet?

Right now, batteries.com is offering a deal on a 50-pack of alkaline batteries for just $10.99. And if you apply the promotional code 50PACK08 in your shopping cart, standard shipping is free!

The package includes 40 batteries in the AA size and 10 in the AAA size. You'll have enough power to last a while with all those little cells around.

Batteries.com 50-Pack takes you there.

Power to the people!

Executive Attache (Good for Laptops) on Clearance at Staples

I ran across an attache case at Staples that is a bit of a break from the black nylon laptop cases you see so often, and it's on clearance, reduced from $49.99 to $14.90. I got one and have to say that it looks like a nice deal for the money, something I'd recommend if you're looking for a nice case.

The look is a bit more rugged, in khaki color with faux leather accents and antique brass hardware. There's a laptop sleeve inside with would probably fit 15" screen units, although a 17" laptop (which is the size I use) fits within the main part of the attache case.

I was able to get free shipping as a Staples Rewards premier member but the item doesn't automatically come with free shipping. But if you add it to other items at Staples for a $50 total order you can get free next business day shipping to your home or office.

If you're looking for an attache case that has a rugged outdoors look but still does the job for your office work, you may want to check it out while they still have some. Click here to take a look.

4GB USB Flash Drive $18.95 with Free Shipping

For those of you who are looking for ways to carry around your digital files, photos and such, USB Flash Drives can be so convenient. And with the mexapixel size of cameras now, having a good-sized memory stick can be so doubly convenient.

If a 4GB flash drive could come in handy, Meritline has one available for $18.95 and it includes standard shipping for free. That's a nice price, about what I paid for one on Black Friday after a rebate (and this one doesn't involve any rebates, just a low price). Their site says it's for a limited time, so if one of these would make sense, click below and take a look.

Meritline 4GB USB Flash Drive

Thanks for the memories...

Discovery Channel DVDs $4.99 Each or 5 for $20.00

If you (or your kids) love some of the shows on the Discovery Channel, here's an opportunity to pick up DVDs of some favorites for less than $5.00. Some of these are great instructional videos with fascinating subjects and might be something to watch over the years as your children grow and appreciate them more.

Right now the Discovery Channel Store is offering 166 of their DVDs at the low price of $4.99, with an extra offer of $20 if you purchase five of them. Series such as American Chopper, Dinosaur Face-Off, Extreme Engineering, Miami Ink and Mythbusters are included, along with many specials from interesting single shows. They have the pilot of Deadliest Catch, Chasing Lance (Armstrong) #7, A Brief History of Time, Walking with Cavemen, and many others. Some of the DVDs were selling for $21.95 so this is really a nice offer.

These are DVDs you probably wouldn't find at many other outlets, so why not click on the link below and see what they have.

Discovery Channel DVD Sale

You really can learn things on TV.

San Francisco Music Box Company Post-Christmas Clearance - 66-75% Off plus Code for Free Shipping

Well, many people have probably gone to some of their local stores to shop for some wrapping paper, bows and ribbons and so one for next year. After all, they're not perishable, they'll still be in style, and the kids rip the packaging open pretty quickly anyway. It's not unusual to see 75% off some of those items at your local CVS, Target, Macy's etc. so the savings can add up. But if you like to collect some of the more particular collectible decorations, maybe the clearance at The San Francisco Music Box Company will tickle your fancy.

They have lots of Water Globes as well as figurines of Angels, Christmas Trees and Santas all slashed to one-third or one-quarter of their original price! A wide variety of items are available, including some Coca Cola themed figures. And if you add the promotional code CCFS8 at checkout, you can get the items shipped free.

Here's a link to the Christmas items that are reduced 66%-75%. Looking through the site, they also have specials such as half-off on "I Love Lucy" or "Betty Boop" items among others.

Why not get an early start on making your next Christmas look sensational, at a fraction of the cost if you waited till late next year?

Need a Nice Briefcase for Your Apple MacBook or Small Laptop? A Free-After-Rebate Offer Is Always Nice...

If you're looking for a nice little case to tote around your MacBook or other small laptop, this might be worth your attention.

OnSale.com is offering a Brenthaven 2270 Edge I case for $34.99 with a full $34.99 rebate. You'll still have to pay shipping but that would still be a lot less than you'd typically pay to buy a decent case for your laptop.

It fits Apple portables with 13.3" screens or similar laptops. The case has a slim design yet contains padding for all four corners and the two sides. It has a retractable padded handle and an ergonomic padded shoulder strap, so it should be comfortable to carry. It's made of ballistic nylon, with durable hardware and reinforcements at stress points to make it last for years.

The rebate offer is good for purchases made by January 15th.

Check out the Brenthaven 2270 Edge I Case.

Free-after-rebate... music to my ears!

Spirit Airlines Roundtrips from 64 Cents! Yes, I Said 64 CENTS!!!!

If you've been reading my blog you know the drill. Spirit Airlines one-day offer for amazingly low airfares, and this time there are fares for 32 cents each way. These fares go fast but they are for real -- after all, I did fly roundtrip to Las Vegas once for a total of two cents!

There are a variety of dates in January and February, and the highlight destinations are Fort Lauderdale, Orlando, Myrtle Beach, Atlantic City, New York and Boston. Fares have to be booked by midnight tonight (January 4th).

If you want to take a look and see if these meet your travel needs (or even give you a reason for a mid-winter escape), click here.

San Francisco Treat: Fine Dining Specials at Elite Restaurants from January 15-31st

If you're in the Bay Area or planning to be during the second half of January, here are some details on a way to dine at some of the high-end and exclusive restaurants without mortgaging your house.

This is the 7th Annual Dine-About-Town program, and a large number of fine restaurants participate. They offer special three-course meals, at lunchtime for $21.95, and at dinner for $31.95. It's an opportunity to maybe give your palate (and your significant other) a treat, and see what all the fuss is about.

There's a long list of participants, some doing both lunch or dinner and others doing only one. If you live in San Francisco you probably already know which are the top restaurants (I don't live there so I wouldn't have any idea). But if you're traveling in and want to sample some extra-fine dining, it may be worth checking some restaurant reviews and find the best cuisine.

You can click 2008 Dine About Town for the details.

Bon Appetit!

Flights as low as $10... Special $20.08 Fare Sale Too!!! On Skybus

Skybus Airlines has announced a special promotion to ring in the new year, with flights available for $20.08 (get it? in 2008?). In addition, their site announces that the first ten seats booked on each flight are $10... not bad prices considering some of the itineraries.

For example, you can get flights from Columbus, OH, to Los Angeles or to San Francisco for $20.08. You can do Boston (Pease Airport) to Daytona Beach (St. Augustine) for $20.08. Greensboro, NC, is adding a lot of city destinations in late February, and as I write this, New York (Newburgh) to Greensboro is still showing the $10 fares for February 25th and 26th, and the $20.08 for many other dates.

The fares don't include the airport and security fees (as with all airlines' price quotes). These prices must be booked by January 5th but there are limited seats on flights at these prices, so I'd get to these as soon as possible -- yes, I searched a variety of city-pairs and there really are a lot of $20 tickets available at the moment.

Skybus flies out of regional airports that may not be the primary ones but if you could get to LA for about $40 roundtrip wouldn't it be worth it? In some of my travels I've found departing from smaller airports is easier than the chaos of some of the larger ones.

If you're looking for another travel alternative, visit Skybus and see if their deals get you a nice trip for less.

Blu-Ray DVDs - Buy One, Get One Free -- Lots of Great Titles

Happy New Year, first of all!

A few days ago Amazon.com was doing a promotion on HD DVDs for Buy One, Get One Free. Titles such as Harry Potter were available but some of the best sold out before long.

Now Amazon is running a Buy One, Get One Free for Blu-Ray DVDs. So those of you with Blu-Ray players or game systems that play Blu-Rays might want to take a glance. They have some of the Harry Potter films plus many other desirable titles such as Oceans Thirteen, Hairspray, Die Hard, Blood Diamond, March of the Penguins -- about 98 in total as I write this. Quantities are limited so you may want to check the list soon.

The starting prices are already reduced about 30% even before you add in the BOGO savings, so you can get two Harry Potter movies for $19.95 when the original retail for just one had been $29.99! AND shipping is free!

Click Blu-Ray DVDs Buy One, Get One Free to see what they are stocking. And enjoy seeing some of your favorites in the high definition of Blu-Ray!