Biggest Gold Star Clearance at Kohl’s

Save up to 80% off winter’s biggest trends and essentials. You will find lots of amazing deals on tops, sweaters, jeans, capris, and dresses. This sale also includes sleepwear, activewear, handbags, intimates, and more with steep markdowns on popular brands like Jennifer Lopez, Apt. 9, LC Lauren Conrad, Chaps, and Croft & Barrow. There are also discounts on apparel for men, children, and home. No promotion code is needed.

Final Sale at J.Crew

Craving classic styles? Shop the Final Sale at J. Crew and enjoy big savings on women’s apparel including blazers, tops, suit pants, skirts, sweater, shorts, outerwear, and footwear. You will find lots of great buys on both timeless and trendy items as well as clothing items for the family. Since this is a seasonal clearance, returns on sale merchandise is not allowed.

Big Clearance at American Eagle Outfitters

For a limited time, you can take an extra 40% off clearance items for women and men. This sale extends to many different styles including hoodies, tees, jackets, pants, tops, camisoles, shorts, skirts, and more. You can also stock up on trendy footwear like boots, flats, wedges, sneakers, sandals, mocassins, and flip flops. The prices are already marked down, and you won’t need a promotion code to enjoy the savings.

Semi-Annual End of Season Sale at Michael Stars
Stock up of cute tees, trendy fashion jewelry pieces, hats, skirts, dresses, and accessories now that their winter clearance is marked down up to 60% off. The sale also includes a few maternity styles. This sale is valid online and in-store. Clearance prices are good while supplies last or through February 5th, so there’s still time to shop. Michael Stars is a popular store to purchase casually chic pieces that are perfect for weekends.

Spring for Something Chic Sale at Ann Taylor
Are you ready for spring yet? Ann Taylor is and for a limited time, they are offering 30% off any full-price purchase online or in-store. Just use the the special code, SPRING30, to take advantage of the discount online. This sale includes spring fashions and new arrivals including striped sweaters, color-block blouses, printed camisoles, tailored suits, jeans, blazers, dresses, and more. This sale also includes shoes and jewelry, but it doesn’t extend to clearance or sale price items.

Pacsun’s Blue Dot Sale
Enjoy steep discounts at Pacsun with their Blue Dot Sale where you can save more when you buy more. Purchase one item and save 30%, purchase two items and save 50% off both items, purchase three items or more items and save 70% off everything in the Blue Dot Sale. You will save big on lace tanks, graphic print tees, hooded jackets, dresses, and more. Men’s clothing is included. This offer is only good on select styles, and it won’t last long. No promotion code is needed. This sale is also valid online.

Save 60% Off Select Outwear At Kohl’s

Sales on coats, jackets, and other outwear styles for women are still going strong. Kohl’s currently has some real deals on cute coats from brands like Sonoma Life + Style, Fila Sport, ZeroXposeur, Apt. 9, and more.  Popular styles include puffer jackets, classic wool coats, and quilted jackets.

End Of The Season Sale at Bebe

Shop and save at Bebe’s winter clearance.  You can save up to 60% off last season’s styles including cute tops, party dresses, fun jackets, and darling accessories. You can also save an additional 30% off select clearance items. No discount or special code is needed. Price changes will be reflected in the cart. This clearance is also available in store.

Consolidation Sale at Saks Fifth Avenue

Shop and save on high end designer clothes from brands like Joie, Tory Burch, Stella McCartney, Theory, DKNY, and many more. These sale includes dresses, denim, tops, jackets, and pants. Men’s clothes and accessories are also on sale.

Footwear Clearance at Baker’s Shoes

Save big on last season’s footwear trends and boots with the Clearance Sale at Baker’s Shoes. The sale includes deals on ankle boots, strappy sandals, slingback sandals, platform heels, flats, sneakers, and more. They also have deals on bags and jewelry. It’s a good sale and you’ll find lots of terrific buys including shoes that are as low as $15.90 and accessories as low as $1.99. No promotion code is needed to save with these deals.

Red Zone Clearance at JCPenney

JCPenney’s low prices are even lower with their red zone clearance. Currently, you can save on 50% to 70% off  hundreds of items including tops, sweaters, suits, jackets, dresses, coats, lingerie, accessories, shoes, and handbags.  They also have some pretty incredible deals on men’s apparel, kids apparel, and home goods.

50% Off Sale At Banana Republic

Enjoy big discounts on your favorite styles for a limited time at Banana Republic. Right now, they have lots of deals on classic button-down blouses, ruffled camisoles, simple scoopneck tees, warm sweaters, and colorful party dresses. The deals are good on select items only.

Cashmere Deals Up to 50% Off at Bluefly

Never pay full price for quality cashmere when you can purchase it for a steep discount. Bluefly has marked down designer cashmere sweaters and accessories for women, and these savings extend to brands like Wyatt, Qi, Autumn Cashmere, Hayden, CeCe, and more. Some of the prices go as low as 50% off, so this is a pretty exciting sale!

Storewide Clearance at Lord & Taylor

The markdowns at Lord & Taylor got even better, and now customers can save anywhere from 60% to 80% off designer apparel, shoes, and accessories. You can also take an extra 20% off with promo code TAKE2. This sale is good online and in-store. You will find the biggest deals on women’s footwear, sportswear, dresses, and cashmere. Men’s sportswear and kids clothes are also on sale. In order to take advantage of the extra 20% discount in-store, you must print the coupon.

The Get What You Really Wanted Sale at Urban Outfitters

Kick off your brand new year and make good use of your resolution to be more stylish! Right now, Urban Outfitters has over one hundred new markdowns online and in-store.  You will save big on their holiday dresses, sequined tops, funky tee shirts, lingerie, accessories, and shoes. If you coveted this item last season, it’s probably on sale now! Men’s apparel, gifts, and home decor are also all on sale.

Semi-Annual Sale at Athleta

It’s that time of year again where everyone wants to lose all that extra weight we gained over the holiday season. Athleta is having their semi-annual sale right now, and you can save up to 60% off select styles including tanks, tops, tees, jackets, pants, dresses, and more.  They have a wide range of apparel and accessories for a wide variety of activities including yoga, golf, tennis, skiing, and more.

End-of-the-Season Sale at Express Fashion

The clearance prices are already great (up to 70% off), but with the end-of-season sale, you can take off an extra 20% off select items like tees, tanks, sweaters, jackets, dresses, trousers, jeans, hoodies, lingerie, footwear, and more. Men’s apparel is also discounted. To see the additional markdown, you need to add the item in the cart. No promotion code is needed for this sale.

Victoria’s Secret Semi-Annual Sale

If you didn’t get what you want for Christmas, rest assured that the Victoria’s Secret Semi-Annual sale will have just about everything you want.  Save up to 60% off dresses, 40% to 60% off Pink sportswear and sleepwear, 25% to 50% off sleepwear,  and up to 50% off footwear and select clothing styles.  In addition, you will save up to 50% off select bras and panties. If you love shopping Victoria’s Secret, you won’t want to miss this sale. Prices are good online and in-store.

Torrid’s Ultimate Fashion Sale

Torrid is the retail destination for the plus-sized fashionista who loves trendy apparel and accessories. Right now, you can save up to 60% off your favorite winter pieces, 40% off cocktail dresses, and 50% off outerwear. Select tees now retail for just $14.99, sweaters  retail for $24.99, and blouses retail for $29.99. In addition, you will save an additional 25% off all clearance. Prices are good online and in-store.

Jones New York  Big Sale

Enjoy savings up to 80% off at the Jones New York sale. This fabulous sale extends to classic tops, dress pants, sheath dresses, suit separates, leather jackets, accessories, and more. But the best thing about this sale is that it’s good through January 6 2012!

Newport News 50% Off Site-wide Sale

For a limited time, when you spend $75.oo or more at Newport News, you can save 50% off your total order. You can stock up on party frocks, every day dresses, fun accessories, ultra-femme blouses and tops, simple sweaters, pants, leggings, and jeans. It’s a terrific sale that you won’t want to miss. No promo code is needed.

Eddie Bauer Ultimate Sale Saves You 60%

If you’re looking for sporty and chic gifts this year, Eddie Bauer has you covered with their semi-annual sale that lets you save up to 60% off select winter styles. This sale includes fabulous discounts on sweaters, cardigans, flannel shirts, boots, and more. You will also find a few extra special offers like $5.00 off when you buy 2 select tees, or $20 off when you buy 2 select pairs of pants.  These amazing buys won’t last long, so you should shop today.

Wrap It Up Sale at Kohl’s

Give the gift of style! Kohl’s department store has some pretty terrific deals on women’s apparel, and right now their entire stock of Apt. 9, AB Studio, and Daisy Fuentes lines are all discounted at 40% to 50% off. You’ll find lots of amazing finds like flirty chiffon tops, straight-leg capri pants, flared denim, basic camisoles, and much more.

Lime Tag Sale at Piperlime

Thanks to the semi-annual Lime Tag Sale, you can save up to 40% off designer clothes and footwear. Highlights of this sale include nice discounts off brands like Michael Stars, Free People, Aryn K, BCBGeneration, and more. You’ll be impressed even more with amazing deals on denim, faux fur jackets, party dresses, and other styles you could wear right now. You could also save even more if you shop their final sale with markdowns up to 70% off. This sale is so good, you should stock up on a few items for yourself!

Save 50% off select winter fashions at Forever 21

Just in time for Christmas and holiday shopping, Forever 21 has some terrific deals on winter apparel and accessories. You can save up to 50% off select styles of jackets, coats, vests, sweater, tops, hoodies, and more.

Save up to 70% off select fashions at American Apparel

Stock up on trendy items and save up to 70% off too. They’ve got a lot of fabulous clothes like tank tops, lounge pants, dresses, cotton shorts, accessories, and more. If you spend $150 or more in total at American Apparel, you receive a free gift of your choice. Options include undergarments, tanks, and hair accessories.

Save 40% off everything at Talbots

Enjoy 40% off storewide with this special offer from Talbots. You will save on gifts for everyone and yourself. Shop now, and you will save on this season’s best items like blouses, pants, skirts, dresses, suits, tees, and more. They also have a wonderful selection of footwear and accessories too. To redeem offer, use the code SALE at checkout.

Save $10 or $25 off your total purchase at Aeropostale

Now through December 24, you can take $10 off any purchase of  $50 or more, or $25 of any purchase of $100 or more at Aeropostale. This offer is valid in-store only, but you can print the coupon here. You can save on cute tees, tops, sweatpants, denim, accessories, bags, outerwear, and more.  If you’re shopping for holidays gifts, Aeropostale also has plenty of wonderful gifts guys like too!

Save 30% Off Sweaters, Jeans, and Shiny Tops at Wet Seal

I know Wet Seal is known as a fashion chain for teens, but any woman who loves trendy garments and accessories should really check out this place. Wet Seal has recently marked down by 30% all of their jeans, sweaters, and shiny tops – perfect gift ideas for the trend-conscience party girl! There is no need for a coupon code, and the markdowns are clear. The sale excludes items that are already on clearance.

Save Up 50% Off and Get Free Shipping on Orders at Bakers Shoes

Who doesn’t love a good footwear sale? Right now at Bakers Shoes, you can save up to 50% off select pairs of pumps, sandals, boots, flats, and more. You can also take 30% off handbags and other small accessories, an extra 25% off sale priced  items, and free shipping on everything. No special code is required for these discounts.

Save Up to 30% Off Select Fashion Gifts at Avenue

If you’re looking for a great gift or two for the plus-sized fashionista in your life, then you won’t want to miss is special sale from Avenue. Enjoy up to 30 % off select gift items like sweaters, pants, jewelry, and more. It’s a great little website that lets you find luxe little gifts for less.

Gap/Old Navy/Banana Republic/Piperlime are offering 30% off most purchases made at these stores on Cyber Monday. This deal extends to fashions, sleepwear, and accessories for the whole family. There is also 20% off all shoes and apparel at Piperlime (a website that’s part of the Gap family). The promo code for this offer is HUGECYBER.  If you’ve missed the big sale, all of these stores will still offer some incredible deals. Gap offers select cotton tees for women starting at $10, and Old Navy has a variety of tanks and blouses for under $10.

Bare Necessities has a huge Black Friday sale that’s extended through Tuesday! With this sale, you can save up to 40% off select designer bras and sleepwear. If you like name brand and designer underpinnings, Bare Necessities is your store; they have a wide variety of labels like Calvin Klein, Le Mystere, Hue, Warner’s, Chantelle, and more. This special sale also extends to shapewear, socks, and men’s underwear (save up to 30%).

Victoria’s Secret has a buy 1 get 2nd bra 50% off sale now through Tuesday. This sale extends to most regular priced bras, but doesn’t include clearance items. Usually, you have to wait for their semi-annual sales to get the best deals at Victoria’s Secret, but special offers like this don’t come around often, so I suggest it’s the perfect time to stock up on your favorite styles. To redeem the offer, you need to have bras in your virtual cart, and apply promo code DOUBLEUP.

Bogo Sale At Express

The mall staple, Express, is kicking off the holidays with style! Right now their BOGO sale (that’s buy 1 item at regular price and get the second item for half off) extends to apparel for women and men. The sale includes all winter basics like tops, sweaters, denim, and pants.  I think this sale provides a great excuse to shop for yourself and stock up on holiday gifts!

Women’s Outwear Sale at JC Penney

If you’re in need of a new coat this season, you really won’t want to miss the big  sale on women’s outwear at JC Penney. The sale allows shoppers to save 50% to 60% off select coat styles.  This  includes brands like Worthington, St. John’s Bay, A.N.A, East 5th, among many others. This smart sale will help you save on cute coat trends like puffers, parkas, peacoats, and much more. Good outerwear is a must-have, but you should still save on it too!

Bogo Footwear Sale  at Payless Shoe Source

At the current BOGO sale at Payless Shoe Source (buy 1 pair of shoes at regular price and get second pair half off), you can finally purchase a pair of dress shoes and an extra pair of footwear for someone on your holiday gift list. This sale extends to styles for the whole family, including shoes for men and children. It’s a good sale that will let you stock up on cozy faux fur boots, sparkly pumps, trendy wedge heels, and more.

On my family’s most recent vacation, my sister forgot her bathing suit. For the first few days of the trip, we were on the look-out for any store that might sell cheap, attractive bathing suits. When were strolling along the coast in Manly, Australia, we stopped by a surf shop. Normally, we wouldn’t even bother with such a store in that kind of location, but we had seen that they were selling their mix-and-match bikini tops and bottoms for half price, and thought the prices might actually be reasonable. Wrong. The bathing suits were $60, per piece; this means a full price bikini at this store would’ve been around $240! That’s about 10 times more than I’d like to pay for a swim suit.

In Perth, we finally found a decent selection of clearance-priced bathing suits. The sign said, from $29.95 and up, so I started scanning the racks for the ones that were actually that price and her size, which narrowed the selection down to about 5 choices. After she tried them all on, and found her favorite, we went to the cash register to pay and were told that the particular suit she had chosen was actually $50. Typical. My sister settled for her second favorite.

If you’re like me, and a bit tired of the whole bathing suit selection process, you will love SwimOutlet.com‘s Men and Women’s Grab Bag Swimsuits. Here’s how it works. You pick the basic style and size you want, and pay the cheap, listed price. Then, they pick a suit that meets your specifications and send it to you. It’s as simple as that, and these suits are cheap! (For example, a ClubSwim one-piece swimsuit was available for as little as $7.99). Why are these suits so inexpensive? The low cost has nothing to do with quality (which has received extremely positive reviews from buyers) and everything to do with the fashion season. The prints you will receive are from last year, but the quality is just the same.

The grab bag selection at SwimOutlet.com will save you time and money. The surprise factor is a bit of fun too, and you might find yourself with a new favorite suit that you otherwise wouldn’t even have picked out!

It is true. An item that is $10 before a holiday can be $2.50 the day after. This realization made me eager to find other ways to take advantage of these tremendous savings. Here are a few ways I save money throughout the year.

1. Candy Extravaganza

After Christmas, Valentine’s Day, Easter, and Halloween I stock up on candy. For example, I found Lindt Lindor Truffles in large heart shaped boxes after Valentine’s Day for only $1.50 per package. Because they are individually wrapped, and because they don’t expire until the end of 2011, I bought and froze several boxes. I plan to re-package the candy in cute candy dishes for gifts. You may not realize it, but chocolate candies freeze well for several months. Because of this, I buy and freeze Halloween candy for use in Christmas stockings as well.

2. Crazy for Candles

Each holiday offers a plethora of candles. This is especially true for Christmas and Mother’s Day. After these holidays, I purchase several to use as birthday gifts. Contrary to what you may think, retailers offer candles other than holly berry or pine at Christmas. After New Year’s I was able to purchase vanilla scent Yankee candles for $2.50.

3. Luxurious Lotions

Another popular item at Christmas and Mother’s Day is lotion. I hit my local Walgreen’s for deals on these after the holidays. Think gift sets. Sure the set might be packaged in holiday specific wrappings, but when taken apart, the components can be re-purposed for birthday gifts. These lotions are great to have on hand for hostess gifts and for teacher gifts. Similar to chocolate, lotions have a lengthy shelf life. No worries about them “spoiling.”

4. Plush Pets

Many holidays revolve around plush pets. These bunnies, chicks, lambs are so cute that sometimes I buy them for birthday presents or to use as “toppers” on baby shower gifts. If you find a cute animal on clearance, see if you can remove any holiday specific items – such as a red, white, and blue ribbon for the 4th of July – and add a neutral ribbon.

5. Wonderful Wrappings

Each holiday offers wrapping paper and bows. When these items end up in the clearance bin, buy them for wrapping birthday presents. For example, I have a friend who relishes her Irish heritage. I often snap up St. Patrick’s Day decorative paper to use for her special day.

I’ll admit… it takes discipline to hit the sale racks when your spirit is weary from cold weather and short days. I would much rather try on vibrant colored summer dresses and imagine myself strolling an outdoor farmer’s market than think about buying boots for trudging through the snow.

But the payoffs of one last winter shopping trip are worth it. Next fall, when you take the items you purchased now out of storage, you will pat yourself on the back for thinking ahead. The truth is – styles do not change dramatically from season to season. You can safely purchase items at the end of this season that will still be fashionable next winter. Most importantly, you can find high quality merchandise at rock-bottom prices.

Look for the following deals:

Clothing

1. Sweaters – Each winter season I make sure to have a variety of “staple” sweaters in my closet, including a black cardigan, and several V neck sweaters. These staples offer dozens of interesting work outfits with the addition of blouses, turtle necks, and luxurious scarves. Think about what staple sweaters would help you create the winter wardrobe of your dreams. Why pay $75 for a better quality sweater next fall, when you can purchase one for $10 this spring?

2. Slacks and Skirts – Just like winter sweaters, slacks and skirts can be purchased now for incredible prices. It is important to try on the items before you purchase them, because this late in the season you don’t want to think about the possibility of returns. Again, think about what you wear to work, and purchase those items. It takes time to search the racks for the right size, but it is well worth the pay off later.

Footwear

1. Heels, Flats, and Boots – It is helpful to anticipate what footwear you will need next fall by assessing the condition of your current selection of shoes and boots. Face it, good quality footwear is an essential element of style, and now is the time to fill in any “gaps” in your collection.

2. Slippers and Socks – It is also time to purchase dark color socks, fuzzy slipper socks, and slippers. The selection may have dwindled on lower quality items, but better quality slippers and socks remain on the shelves. Treat yourself to these necessities, ones that swaddle your feet in comfort on cold winter nights.

Accessories

1. Hats, Gloves, Scarves, and Mittens – By the end of the season, mittens may have no mate and hats and scarves may have “pulls” in the fabric, so beginning next year with a fresh set will boost your style.

2. Seasonal Jewelry – Holiday jewelry, including big, bold pieces, can accentuate plain sweaters and dresses, giving them a sophisticated look. Grab a few pieces now, for use at next year’s holiday parties; you won’t be sorry.

3.  Handbags – Incredible deals abound at this time of year on purses, especially designer bags.  The right handbag can make a stylish statement, so having an assortment can amp up your style.

This type of shopping trip works best if you make a list beforehand. Also, make sure you have at least a couple of hours to be able to search for those items. Most retailers want shoppers to notice full-price items, but end of season shopping calls for focus, focus on the incredible deals that will be a welcome addition to your unique and stylish wardrobe next fall.

1. Shoes: Begin your search at department stores in your local mall such as Nordstrom, Lord & Taylor , and Macy’s. Look for the sales first and collect your coupons! Be sure not to pass by the B.P. Junior’s shoe department in Nordstrom for younger looks! Next, venture to DSW: Discount Shoe Warehouse. You can even shop DSW online to save even more! Make sure you sign up for DSW rewards for even more savings! The great thing about DSW is that they carry name brand shoes for less such as: Nine West, BCBG, Clarks, Gucci, Jones New York, Puma, Prada, New Balance, etc.
2. Clothes: For college girls, a great place for a dressier top would be Nordstrom’s Point of View department. It offers a wide variety of tops and bottoms for all sizes and styles. This department will likely not save you any money but hey, you have to splurge sometimes! Additionally, if you are a Macy’s Visa Card holder, you enjoy the benefits of frequent 20% and $20 off coupons as well as the occasional gift certificate from Macys. This comes in very hands in, let’s say the intimates section, an area that usually will cost a pretty penny, but you can use various discounts! Additionally, Macy’s carries high-end brands like Lactose, Ralph Lauren Polo and Tommy Hilfiger.
3. Accessories: Every girl should go to school with a new bag, whether it be a school bag or a pocketbook. Stores I would recommend for this would be either Burberry or Coach outlets or department stores like Macy’s or Lord & Taylor, where by an off chance, you could find your next dream bag on sale! If all else fails, I always rely on my Longchamp totes sold in Nordstrom for a reasonable ticket price in my opinion.
4. Cosmetics and Personal Accessories: For cosmetics, I believe in investing when investing should be made. I recommend either Clinique or Lancôme make-up: Clinique for everything facial and Lancôme for everything and all about the eyes. It will cost you a lot up front but it will last you a long time and work better than less expensive discount brands. For personal accessories like nail polish, I would recommend visiting a discount beauty supply like Harmons (which accepts Bed, Bath, and Beyond coupons…so save them!) to purchase nail polish, nail care kits, make-up cases, body-wash, shampoo and conditioner and hair accessories like clips and brushes.

All in all, going back to school is a process for guys and girls. It is harder to spend less on getting ready for school than it is spending more. At the end of the day, it takes some thinking before buying and the ability to train yourself to shop smart! Good luck and best of luck with your school year!

1. Coming from a hyper-organized, excel-loving, control-freak: create a comprehensive Excel spreadsheet with the following headings:

• Item
• Location (kitchen, bathroom, common room)
• Person Bringing

2. Once you create this spreadsheet, get together as a group via video chat or in person and filter through what each person already has and is able to bring in order to cut costs. If someone “signs up” for the frying pan, highlight the rest of the cells in that column on the spreadsheet and fill them with a solid color (I chose black).

3. On your second filter, decide what the most important things on your list are (such as silverware and table settings) and highlight those rows in a different color like yellow.

4. Once your list is complete, begin your research. I would recommend starting with dishes and silverware. Target.com is a great place to start. There you can filter your results by price and brand.

• In my experience, one of the most reliable brands is Corelle. Corelle’s dinner ware sets are microwave safe, sturdy (not broken as easily as your Mother’s fine China!) and affordable. For example, when sorted from highest to lowest price, Corelle’s highest price as July 11^th, 2010 is $79.99. Let’s say you have 8 roommates…that equals approximately $8/person for a 16 piece dinnerware set!

(www.target.com)

• Another reliable brand is Target Home. Yes it is not Oneida or Lenox like I enjoy at my home, it is quite fine for a temporary college apartment. It is good quality and does not break student’s bank accounts. For a special of $60 I purchased 8 place settings along with an added bonus of 5 serving utensils; for my apartment of 6, it only cost us $10 each.

For additional super saving shopping experiences I recommend:

• Bed Bath and Beyond
• Target
• AC Moore (Where I got a 5-piece bake ware set for a super special sale price of $10 from a regular of $30!)
• Wegmans

This time last year, I began my weekly visits to Bed Bath and Beyond. It began with a few small purchases such as a desk lamp and a shower tote. Then, it turned into bed bug protectors, and then the Egyptian cotton fiber bed. The list goes on! So, Mom, here is the list of MUST HAVES for your child’s first year of college!

1. The Bed: keep an eye out for Macy’s ONE DAY SALE! (they are random!) You may even consider opening up a Macy’s Credit Card to receive a first purchase discount as well as STAR Rewards which include coupons for 20% off or $20 off! Start off with the bedding! Remember most colleges have beds that are TWIN EXTRA LONG. Plenty of stores and websites like macys.com have a “bed-in-a-bag” that will make your life easy! If you want to get fancy, you can get Macy’s Charter Club 500 Thread Count sheets in Twin XL as well for the ultimate comfort for your college kid! The next crucial thing is the bed bug protector. It sounds discouraging but it is necessary! I would also recommend either an egg crate or an Egyptian Cotton Fiber Bed. It is like having a pillow top on your not-so-plush-dorm room bed. They are also available in a feather bed. Another critical purchase: bed-risers! They come as high as seven inches and allow for ample storage space under the bed!
2. The “kitchen”: Most first-years lack a kitchen in their dorm room. However, you can make it work by having a small refrigerator and a microwave! Easy-Mac becomes a close friend to most! The best budget buy: the Keurig. The smallest one costs about $89 (without the coupon!) and the K-Cups average around $13.99. TIP: buy them at Gloria Jeans and get a frequent buyer card and eventually earn enough “hole punches” to get $10 off! (Last week I got 25 K-Cups for $3.99!) It saves a lot of money during the year and allows you to drink your coffee or tea whenever and wherever you please!
3. The bathroom: For most, a common bathroom is a bit of a shock. So, I would suggest you come prepared with the following:

• A plastic shower tote (the cloth ones never dry!)
• Flip Flops (Old Navy—some are available for only $1 on certain occasions!)
• Terry-Cloth bath robe
• DRYING RACK—very necessary! In a small dorm room with poor air circulation it is the only way your towels will dry!

Keep in mind that every student is different, but the objective here is to make sure your student is comfortable and to have him or her be as prepared as possible for the transition! And… always remember the coupons!

1- Take A Second Look
Perhaps you already have holiday dishes or décor that you forgot about. Discover your hidden treasures in the basement and find a way to make them new again.  Maybe you were given a set of old Christmas plates, as a family heirloom, that you would rather not use for dinner. Why not showcase them in your china hutch instead? Get creative with your options! Don’t forget to look at secondhand stores for more options.

2- Browse Close-out Retail
Places like Big Lots are a great way to discover décor options without breaking the bank. The close-out stores buy merchandise from local merchants who are either going out of business or selling extra merchandise that they can’t sell. Make sure to go shopping at least once a week, as they are always selling new items for less!

3- Shop For Handmade
Online retail websites are a great place to find a variety of  low-cost handmade gifts and décor. Here you will find a wide array of gifts, decorations, and so much more. Check out Etsy.com.

4- Learn A New Art or Craft
Now is the perfect time to take that pottery class or ornament making workshop. You will not only learn something that’s fun and make new friends, you also will save some money by making your own décor.

5- Wait For Clearance Sales
The best way to find great deals on holiday décor? Wait until after Christmas and take advantage of their winter/holiday clearance sales. You can save the new stuff for next year!

If you are one of the people who gets up super early the day after Thanksgiving, then I think it is safe to assume that you have been checking through the advertisements and preparing for your upcoming purchases. I bet you have been flipping through the pages, making notes, tearing out coupons, and have drafted a plan of action. I usually go with the method of get into Best Buy, find some DVDs and yet another USB stick and bolt to get back to bed, but hey, everyone is entitled to their personal shopping strategies.

So, how exactly did this “holiday” come into existence? It actually is not an official holiday; however, most people, except for the bankers and the people working in retail, do have the day off. The date’s name, Black Friday, stems originally from September 24, 1869–a day of stock market catastrophe. In any case, the day after Thanksgiving is exactly the opposite of a stock market catastrophe. Not surprisingly, it was the retail stores that eventually turned Black Friday into a shop-aholic’s tradition.

What happened was that during the late 19th century and early 20th century, department stores sponsored Santa parades or Thanksgiving Day parades. They then kind of made an unofficial rule that no store would attempt at Christmas advertising before the parade was over, so they started on the next day instead! So, in reality there is not too much history to the day. The earliest reference to this day being called  Black Friday was in 1965 by Bonnie Taylor-Blake of the American Dialect Society in reference to the city of Philadelphia and to the heavy traffic on that day.

Created and practiced by retailers, Black Friday certainly has become an interesting shopping tradition.

1-Host a clothing swap party with your friends to trade in the clothes or accessories (in good condition) that you hardly wear for something new. Make sure that everyone brings in at least few items to swap.

2-Raid the sale and clearance bins for  summer items that will work throughout the fall. This includes items like  jeans, tee shirts, and even maxi dresses (which looks great with a denim jacket).

3-Go through your closet to find items you forgot about. Find a few core pieces that will work with several different looks. Stick with neutral pieces.

4-Live in jeans- which is something most of us already do. If you’re currently living in jeans and a tee, throw on a hoodie. Hooded sweatshirts are often stylish, yet an inexpensive piece to liven up your look.

5-Learn to sew. Some craft stores offer classes, as do local community centers. This is a valuable skill and a fun way to create new looks.

6-Buy a few new accessories, like a new handbag or shoes, to stretch out what you already have. Buying some inexpensive fashion jewelry works, too.

7-Get thrifty and shop at your local thrift boutiques for gently used threads.

8-And if you must get that hot fall item before it goes on sale, try to wait for a free shipping or gift with purchase promotion to get more for your money.

Start your day at a department store or a mass chain retailer (such as Target), and browse the clearance bins. Right now, there aren’t too many people shopping in general, so you can find some really good deals on clearance. Dillard’s and Macy’s are great places to find a mix of lower end designers as well as store brands (love Macy’s Style and Co. brand). I also love Target for their selection of fabulous classics and cutting edge designer pieces.

Next stop, trendy specialty shops like Forever 21, Charlotte Russe, and Bebe. You can find tons of trendy items for the season, plus shoes and accessories. Perhaps you can find a complete outfit for at least $50.

What I really love about stores like these is the fact that they are smaller, and the customer service is a little more personal. I love it when I go to my favorite shop, and the cashiers recognize me. Frequent shoppers often get a little assistance when if comes to finding the right items they’re looking for.

You can get shoes at almost any store, but shoe stores often have better deals and sales, like Payless Shoe Source’s BOGO days (Buy One, Get One half-off). Another great discount shoe store is Rack Room Shoes, which sells low end designer shoes and accessories. The mall is also a great place to stock up on fashion jewelry, lingerie, and even cosmetics.

Here are a few tips to help you save even more during your shopping adventure:

• Scour websites of department and chain shops for the latest deals and discounts.
• Bring a close friend with you to keep your shopping in check.
• And have fun!

But sometimes, if we don’t stop ourselves, spring shopping may bring more harm than is necessary. In our eagerness to get new clothes, we might end up buying more stuff that we need. What can we do to prevent that?

1. Write it down. Write down everything you really need. Done? Good. Now write down a list of the things you may need. Done? Finally, write down a list of the things you don’t need. Now, when you’re  shopping, you actually have something that will help you decide whether you can justify purchasing an item.
2. Stick to the list. What’s the point of having a list if you’re not going to use it?
3. Hide the money. Bring only enough money when you go out. If you’re only using your debit card, then put only enough money in your account for spending. NEVER USE YOUR CREDIT CARD!
4. Shop around. Look for bargains. Go online. Visit the mall. Browse catalogs. There’s always a better deal out there. And your goal is to find it.
5. Wait 24 hours. If you feel temptation is kicking in, let go of the item, leave the store and come back after 24 hours. If after 24 hours, you still feel the same way about the product, then buy it. If not, then that’s money saved, right? Good!

You can do this. You can shop for spring but not go overboard. Good luck!

I am ashamed to say that I learned these techniques when I was a teenager.  There were certain friends who would get free food when they had no money.  Although I had too great a conscience to use my powers for evil, I still clung to them.

Thought number one: Very few people ever complain with a point.  After being treated wrongly, people often hurl insults and share their experience with the front line employees who really have no power to do anything about your problem.  Basically, they don’t care.

Solution: Be polite to the clerk, and ask him by name to speak to his manager because you weren’t happy with whatever.  When you get to the manager share your story and tell her what you want in return.  Maybe you just want your money back or maybe you feel you deserve something “extra.”  Often you will be rewarded for your troubles because many companies know that an angry customer will share his experience with nine other people.  A happy one is only likely to share with three.

Thought number two: No is not an acceptable answer.  Many times the manager will not offer to do anything for you.  She only wants to get you out of the store.  These managers are often sly and protective of their quarterly profit bonuses.

Solution: Call the head manager or the corporate office.  When talking to this new person, again share your story.  Focus on how the experience made you feel.  Emotions are tough to dismiss.

Be persistent.  When I was deployed to Iraq my wife lost Internet (our only form of communication).  The repair man came and made the problem worse.  I emailed the company and was blown off numerous times.  I persisted until I got through to them and was heavily rewarded with a free month’s service.  Just remember that “no” is not an answer.

Ebates.com- This cool website not only shares current coupon codes for your favorite e-tailers (including The Gap and Barnes & Noble), you also can get cash back! Sign up for free, browse for your favorite websites, and tell your friend about it to receive a $5 referral bonus.

WowCoupons.com- This site is so easy- simply search for retail, grocery, restaurant  and entertainment coupons and print. You don’t need to sign up for anything (which really frees up your email inbox!).  These coupons are good to take with you on your next shopping trip.

CouponMom.com- Find deals on shopping and entertainment, but the real draw is grocery coupons. Get completely free access to grocery and drugstore deals, and download the free e-book “Cut Your Grocery Bill in Half “. You’ll also find coupon codes and free offers.

RetailMeNot.com- Find online discounts to over  20,000 online shops- that includes your favorite chains and more obscure online boutiques. This website always keeps up with the latest deals to be found, and if they ever miss one, you easily can submit the deal on the website.

Stores are designed for women because retailers know that women love to shop.  This is why there are all those girl magazines and girlie items in the checkout aisles.  Men usually look at them and laugh.  Now, onto my reform.   My wife is a shopper.  She will look at every bottle of whatever, to see which is the best.  She will try on twenty shirts she doesn’t like to re-affirm her decision of the one she does.

I often would go shopping with her because I love to savor our time together, and there is simply no other way to make time stand still.  Observing her made me feel like the Crocodile Hunter.  It became apparent that she was a really smart shopper and usually buys the better deal.  Her drawn out decisions were weighing the options of fashion, finance and function.

Being a true student of life, I adopted some of these tactics.  When I go to the store, my routine has been altered.  I still know what I am going for and usually have done some research into the item.  I still seek out my item.  What has changed is my blind grab and go strategy.

Once I get the item in my hands I think about possible alternatives.  Are similar items on the same rack a better bargain?  Am I buying the right amount?  Is there something else that would be a suitable sub?

For example, I was buying a cooler to brine a turkey in for Thanksgiving.  Coolers that were of size were very expensive.  I began to wonder about other options.  All I needed was a box to hold ice that is similar in size.  Storage bins!  I went to closet storage bins and got a perfect one much more cheaply.