Bargain Babe» Polls

Which gift card do you want to win?

bargainbabe — Wed, 28 Apr 2010 10:31:50 +0000

The $25 Amazon gift card is edging out the $50 Sephora e-gift card in the final days of our poll to see which prize one lucky person should win for reading BargainBabe.com. If you haven’t voted yet, there are just a few days left!

As a bonus, I will also be giving away a $25 Marshalls card and a $25 TJ Maxx card, above, which were donated by the retailers.

Vote by May 2 to determine which prize to win! Your choices are below. Prizes that are e-cards are only redeemable online, fyi.

Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post's poll.

Should I dip into savings to meet my budget?

bargainbabe — Wed, 14 Apr 2010 18:12:52 +0000

I totally overspent during the first week of my cash-only experiment (yes, I really did give up credit cards!) so I drastically scaled back during my second week. My cash outflow was drying up when – BAM! – I had to buy a new mattress. Believe me, it was that or sleep on the couch.

My mattress purchase leaves me with $157 for the month. Unless…I dip into savings to cover the mattress. Here’s how my spending looks so far.

Week 1 spending – $470 (including a pricey snowboarding trip)

Week 2 spending – $40 (just groceries)

Emergency mattress spending – $533

That adds up to $1,043. My target was to spend $1,200 this month.

Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post's poll.

UPDATE: For some reason the poll is not working. We made some tech updates recently on BargainBabe.com so I’m checking to see if those affected the polling features. Hang tight!

Friday fun: are my bargain basement shoes tacky?

bargainbabe — Fri, 02 Apr 2010 16:52:45 +0000

It occurred to me last night while listening to a talk on social marketing that my beautiful bargain basement flats were shamefully tacky. The flats – lime green patent leather with a faux animal print tip – were a gift from a good friend who pointed them out to me at the local thrift store. I hesitated so she went ahead and bought the $5 flats, above, for me.

I adore them. If you can’t get away with green patent leather in gaudy LA, where can you? But…I’d like a second opinion. I wear them with dark skinny jeans, a black top, and a fitted black and white jacket.

Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post's poll.

Negotiating bargains in the Great Recession

bargainbabe — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 17:03:07 +0000

A few weeks ago I was buying running shoes at a runner’s store – the kind where the salesperson watches your stride and recommends shoes based on how your ankles bend – when I got a discount even though I had no negotiating chips.

I told the salesperson I badly needed new shoes
I said out loud how much I liked the pair he recommended
I told him I had previously paid full price for shoes at another running store

Mentally I had decided to buy the shoes when I asked if he had any promotions going on. I was committed, but why not ask anyway? The store wasn’t exactly busy. The salesman immediately replied he could knock 10 percent off. Wow!

It was almost too easy. I had to wonder if the economy played a role.

Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post's poll.

Do you plan to shop the Labor Day sales?

bargainbabe — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 15:35:19 +0000

Retail sales in fell 2 percent in August, which some people say is a good thing because the decline is smaller than in past months. Sales dropped at Target (3 percent), Abercrombie & Firtch (29 percent), and American Eagle (7 percent).

Sales increased at Old Navy (4 percent), TJ Maxx (5 percent), and Aeropostale (9 percent). Folks are hoping this means back to school sales will be strong this weekend.

I plan to do a bit of shopping this weekend for the $50 fashion challenge against SDBargainMama. Also, I’ve got a gift certificate at J.Crew to spend!

Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post's poll.

Recession’s over in Europe. What about in your home?

bargainbabe — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 16:57:25 +0000

The recession is over in Europe and things are stabilizing in the U.S., according to the headlines.

Europe forgets recession (Forbes)

Eastern Europe sees hope in Western growth (Wall Street Journal)

Economists say recession may be over (NPR)

Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post's poll.

Most popular posts of the week

bargainbabe — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 16:36:14 +0000

We’re re-vamping the Top 5 Posts page so the deals are fresh and reader-controlled. As it is, older posts are basically grandfathered in because people click on what is already there so new stuff doesn’t rise to the top.

In the new system you will chose your favorite post from what was most popular this past week, as determined by what people click on from my free email newsletter.

The top vote getter will be posted on the Top 5 Posts page.

The four most-read posts from this week will go up against the post that got the most votes the week before (except for this week because this is our first vote). You have one week to cast your virtual ballot!

Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post's poll.

Refresh your memory:

The return of the Nitty Gritty Grocery List

Tips from frugal folks

Where do you keep your coupons?

Coupons: Jamba Juice and Cheesecake Factory

I’m not spending, Hubby is. Is our total spending any less?

Poll: back to school spending

bargainbabe — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 15:31:04 +0000

Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post's poll.

Are you average? According to the National Retail Federation, the average household with students in grades kindergarten through 12 is expected to spend $549, down from $594 last year.

Coupon dilemma

bargainbabe — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 15:21:38 +0000

The coupons I purchased from TheCouponMaster.com arrived yesterday in the mail, sorted neatly with a receipt for $3.95 ($3.01 worth of coupons plus a $.94 shipping fee). But now that I’m on a spending moratorium I’m not sure if I can use them. In fact, I’m pretty sure I cannot use them.

The problem is 22 of 31 coupons I purchased expire in July. $*%&#!

My spending moratorium puts the kabash on spending money on anything but groceries, basics like rent and utilities, and business expenses.

Three of the coupons are for a legitimate grocery item (ice cream), but the others are all for toiletries, which I often buy at the grocery store on sale but they are not truly grocery items.

My plan – before the moratorium – was to use the coupons at Target, which has really good prices on toiletries. Now I’m stuck between a rock and this friggin’ moratorium, which, until now, I have had no trouble observing!

Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post's poll.

Going on a spending moratorium

bargainbabe — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 16:56:46 +0000

I’m considering going on a spending moratorium for one month, which means not buying anything except groceries and gasoline. The experiment would push me to find creative ways to get around purchasing things. What can I reuse or repurpose? What can I do without? I think forcing myself to not spend anything would increase the perceived value of certain items and decrease the value of others.

But there are three major loopholes that make me wonder if this experiment is worth conducting.

First, by turning on the lights I am buying electricity. By cooking I am buying gas. I’m not willing to give up electricity and gas for a month. Same thing goes for my rent, cell phone, and a few other built-in expenses. So really what I am proposing is going on a discretionary spending moratorium. I’ve done a good job paring down my discretionary spending with my forward-looking budget system. Is it useful to cut back further?

Second, there are ways to get things without spending, like when Hubby and I go to our weekly dance class. Afterward he takes me out for dinner, which I enjoy immensely. I’m not paying for the meal per se because he is using his own discretionary dollars, but the money comes out of our joint checking account. If I go on a spending moratorium, am I obligated to say no to items purchased on my behalf?

Lastly, the duration of the moratorium – one month – is short enough that I can basically hold my breath on a lot of purchases. Is one month long enough to really feel the effect of a spending moratorium? Or am I just practicing delayed gratification?

Well folks, I’ve practically talked myself out of this experiment. But before I make my final decision I’d really love your input.

Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post's poll.

Here’s another option altogether. YOU go on a one-month spending moratorium and submit a blog post about the experience. The fame! The glory! The saved money! Email me if you are interested.

Readers vote: Trader Joe’s gift card is tops! Email subscriber drive launches today!

bargainbabe — Tue, 26 May 2009 11:13:31 +0000

More than 300 readers voted in my poll about which gift card they wanted to win in my email subscriber drive. The top choice – Trader Joe’s – squeezed out a win by three votes! Thank you for participating.

UPDATE: Target is now tied for the No. 1 spot. Because both TJ’s and Target were so popular and because some readers may not have a TJ’s near them, the winners will get to chose if they want a gift card to TJ’s or Target. I think this is the fairest way of handling the situation.

Here is how the subscriber drive works:

1. The drive begins today, May 26, 2009 and ends June 9, 2009.

2. One existing reader who already receives my weekday OR weekly emails will win a $25 gift card to Trader Joe’s. If you already receive my emails, you are automatically entered to win. You do not need to do anything to be eligible. You do not need to email me to double check.

3. One new reader who signs up between May 26 and June 9 to receive my free emails will receive a $25 gift card to Trader Joe’s.

4. Winners will be chosen at random on June 10. I will email those readers to make sure the email address is valid. Readers will have 48 hours to respond. If readers do not respond, alternates will be notified.

5. Winners will be announced on the blog. Gift cards will be mailed to the winners.

Any questions? Leave a comment.

Which 30-second pitch for Bargain babe is the best?

bargainbabe — Tue, 19 May 2009 16:45:56 +0000

We are focusing a LOT on crafting five-minute pitches for our businesses at the USC News Entrepreneur Boot Camp I am attending this week (hence all the guest posts). But before you can create a five-minute pitch, you need a sizzling 30-second pitch. UPDATE: I’m giving my pitch to four potential funders.

Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post's poll.

Can you think of a better pitch for Bargainbabe.com? Your input makes this site better.

Which 30-second pitch for BargainBabe.com is the best?

Dispatch from boot camp: work smarter

Off to news entrepreneur boot camp

Are you prepared for Mother’s Day?

bargainbabe — Thu, 07 May 2009 16:17:03 +0000

Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post's poll.

What do YOU want for Mother’s Day? Share what’s on your wish list – it may give another reader an idea!

Brief history of credit cards: a quiz

bargainbabe — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 16:55:00 +0000

Time Magazine had a brief history of credit cards that I’ve turned into a TRUE or FALSE quiz.

1. In the 1920s gas stations, department stores and hotels offered the first charge cards to drivers who did not want to zip back to the bank for cash.

2. Credit cards became popular in the 1950s post-war boom.

3. The first widely used credit card was a Diners Club card made out of cardboard.

4. In the 1960s credit cards were mailed to 5 million Chicagoans, including toddlers, felons, and dogs.

5. The American Express platinum card, which debuted in 1984, was the first premium charge card.

6. Lenders collected more than $18 billion in credit card penalties and fees in 2007.

7. In 2008 half of U.S. college students had four or more credit cards.

8. Outstanding credit card debt reached a record $951 billion in 2008.

To get the answers keeping reading.The credit card quiz answers are all TRUE.

UPDATE: Bargain ethics when it comes to parking tickets

bargainbabe — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 16:52:06 +0000

A friend and I grabbed dinner and a beer after going for a swim last night. We had a delicious meal at Library Ale House in Santa Monica; the Allagash Black was SO much better than Guinness, and I don’t even like dark beer! But when we returned to her car, tucked under the windshield wiper was a parking ticket. Blurg!

We had both forgotten to put money in the meter before going to dinner. Perhaps this was karma coming back to bite me in the a– after I declared Tuesday that to avoid parking tickets all one had to do was “put one extra quarter into the meter.” Actually, avoiding fines also requires having the presence of mind to fill the meter.

My friend and I grumbled over the parking ticket but I made no offer to split it with her.

Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post's poll.

UPDATE: Just wanted to let you all know that I gave my friend $20 to cover half of the parking ticket. It took her a second to figure out why I was handing over the cash. “My readers are keeping me honest,” I told her. She smiled and thanked me, adding that it was not necessary. But it was the right thing to do, however belated.