Never Too Early for Christmas Shopping September 11, 2008
Posted by mbvh in Uncategorized.Tags: Christmas shopping, coupons, Sears
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Dear Diary,
I know it’s not even yet Halloween. But does that mean that it’s too early to be thinking of Christmas? I hope not. As December looms, so does the nightmare of joining last-minute shoppers on Christmas season mall sales. Heaven knows how much I don’t want that to happen to me. I had a very bad and very traumatic experience last year. On Christmas Eve. At Sears.
So I am starting this September, about three months away. That way, I won’t be in such a mad rush to purchase items that are on sale. I won’t have to worry about parking space at K-Mart. I won’t have to keep revising my list or write people off of it. I won’t have to be at the tail-end of long queues, or frenetically redeem coupons just to match a hastily allocated budget. I won’t be suffering from any great imbalance between Christmas supply and consumer demand.
This year won’t find me procrastinating. Oh no, sir! Instead I will enjoy the relaxed, pre-December atmosphere of department stores and retail shops. Maybe I will even find items that are good for out-of-season gifts; by shopping early, I can buy anything that I want, without the rush of Christmas affecting supply or stock. Also, I’m guaranteed more time in December – time, that is, other than for shopping. What with parties, preparations, sending of greetings, house calls to friends and family, Christmas season can make one’s schedule very hectic indeed.
I can shop online, too, from the comfort of my own home. It is very convenient to do this, especially for Christmas, because I won’t have to worry about how to send gifts to recipients that aren’t exactly in close proximity. There won’t be any long waits at the Post Office; many online shops, after all, offer fast and free shipping according to delivery instructions. Also, I won’t have to be burdened by the weight of carrying so many shopping bags or make confused arrangements about shipping and wrapping packages.
Anyway, you get my point. I am planning early for Christmas shopping so that I will have a relatively stress-free holiday season. Relatively – because I don’t know what recipe ideas I’m going to have to come up with!
A Day for Gift-Shopping September 3, 2008
Posted by mbvh in Uncategorized.Tags: coupon codes, gifts, online shopping
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What kind of savage son would get his father a lighter, an ashtray, and two boxes of hand-rolled cigars on Father’s Day? Well…the kind just like me, I guess.
“Are you trying to kill your dad?” mother asked when she saw what I was about to give him.
Of course not! Having trekked into the monstrously populated town mall on the eve of all fathers’ special day, I was easily tempted to be eclectic. No World’s Greatest Dad paper holder. No moleskin planner. No wallet. No Swiss knife. I wanted my gift to be a little out of the usual. And where do I get it? Kultura Filipino, of course.
The one-stop shop is a treasure trove of local culture and crafts, all showcasing how unique being a Filipino is. There were two huge stands displaying the cigars. Naturally, already having bought a Coca Cola lighter from Lighter’s Galore, I was easily drawn, like to a magnet. I got two boxes and was given a free sample – which I smoked immediately after I got home. Thanks, Kultura Filipino!
According to Kabayan Central, each cigar from Tabaqueria de Filipinas (the leading exporter of premium cigars in the Philippines) is rolled entirely by hand, meticulously inspected, and packed in hand-crafted boxes and humidors made from Narra wood. I purchased two of the brand’s coronas.
The 1898 Independencia corona, as sales would probably have it, is their most popular cigar. It was launched in 1998 to mark 100 years of Philippine independence and combines “pais” fillers from Isabela as well as Isabela Binders and Java wrappers – thus producing a smooth, full-bodied flavor. On the other hand, the Flor de Filipinas cigars combine a rich blend of Cuban seed tobacco grown in La Union; it is a bold, spicy cigar with a Philippine binder and an Indonesian wrapper.
Whew. I am the exact opposite of a cigar connoisseur, but I am sorry I am not a no-smoking advocate either. Not yet.
For coupon codes on gift items, ideas and suggestions, visit Coupon Saver.
Memory Loss at the Bookstore August 29, 2008
Posted by mbvh in Uncategorized.Tags: bookstore, discounts, shopping
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I spent three hours in the bookstore today. Not that I was too busy purchasing everything tagged with a discounted price; I was there, rather, to cover an event for some private tutorial center, and to interview a sixteen year-old math wizard who is about to apply for a scholarship to Stanford.
Impulsive shopper that I am, I ended up clutching on my way home a brown paper bag containing three new books. If you’re curious, the titles are: Dubliners by James Joyce, An Artist of the Floating World by Kazuo Ishiguro, and The Red Badge of Courage by Stephen Crane. And I can see that this imprudent extravagance, this extravagant imprudence, shall pretty much ruin the plans I had made for the weekend, which supposedly was to include a Saturday night trip to the bar, an hour of afternoon basketball, the home viewing of a bunch of DVDs my boss had lent me (so Matchpoint has to wait yet another week), and of course, my writing a feature story on some young girl whose name I couldn’t remember and whose arithmetic skills I can never come close to matching. (The great damage of illogical sprees like this on my finances simply escapes me.)
However, the fault –mathematically speaking- shouldn’t be entirely mine. The newspapers have been heralding all week the magnificent opening of McNally Jackson – formerly McNally Robinson. The windows of Barnes & Noble have been plastered with huge, colorful posters announcing the stores’ ongoing sale. And it was payday last Thursday.
The snakes, therefore, have presented to me the apple on a shiny silver platter, a fruit simply begging to be eaten by unassuming earthlings with a weak will. The three hours I spent in a bookstore saw me picking the fruit from which to take a tiny, yet guilty, yet perfectly understandable bite.
No regrets, though -only apprehension, perhaps, on the consequences I foresaw but did not consider. I was truly looking forward to a good run on the court, and I was truly looking forward to watching Scarlett Johansson on my humble home theater. Most notably and to my chagrin, my calendar will again be modified to further inconvenience.
But hopefully, on Monday, I’ll remember the young girl’s name.
Hot Kicks at Even Hotter Prices! August 27, 2008
Posted by mbvh in Uncategorized.Tags: coupon codes, coupons, shoes
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I love kicks. As in shoes. Nike, Adidas, Reebok – you name it. I’ve been collecting them for years, like Imelda Marcos.
Of course it costs money. A lot of money. Luckily, with the advent of online coupon codes, I am able to save even as I continue my hobby.
Here’s a list of codes I use to save on my shoes:
Finish Line Coupons: Finish Line will provide the best selection of sport inspired footwear, apparel and accessories to fit the fast culture of action addicted individuals.
Skechers Coupons: This is where I get the hottest Skechers shoes at the lowest prices.
FootSmart Coupons: FootSmart, the largest direct retailer of foot and lower body healthcare products in the United States, understands that when your feet hurt or are not properly cushioned or supported, your entire lower body can be negatively affected.
Mason Shoe Coupons: This is where I find all the classic looks, plus the latest styles in dazzling dress shoes, trendy casuals, and tech-enhanced athletic shoes – all from top name brands like Skechers, Stacy Adams, Timberland, New Balance and many more). It’s everything you need to turn any outfit from ordinary to extraordinary.
T-Shirts Thursday August 21, 2008
Posted by mbvh in Uncategorized.Tags: coupons, fashion, online shopping, shirts, thursday
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So I’ve been scouring the Internet for t-shirts. It’s summer and I’m on vacation, after all, so I have the freedom to be as casual as possible. Freedom: that means putting a hold on suits and ties, and strutting in roundnecks or V-necks. It means “college days” all over again.
But I am the kind of shopper who is very choosy with t-shirt designs. If possible, I would like to make a statement with whatever I am wearing. After doing my research online, I made a list of what I think I liked. And now I am sharing it to you. Let me know what you think:
1. Rainbow David Bowie T-shirt by Junk Food: Don’t tell me you’ve forgotten about David Bowie. “Life on Mars?” has to be one of my favorite singles of all time. If I wear this shirt, I am going to be paying tribute to one of my most important musical idols – as well as touch on a part of my childhood. Of course, it’s also a plus to be looking so cool in the process. Price: $19.
2. SILF Busted Tees: What else is summer but the season for BLT sandwiches? Bacon, lettuce, and tomato, that is. Or it may stand for something else. The official description of the shirt goes like this: “Where’s the best place to meet a hot sandwich? The club. Baby, I like it rye.” Price: $18.99
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3. One Horse Shy Bush’s Last Day Shirt: If I am going to make a statement then it might as well be political. The shirt’s understated design still speaks volumes of what’s on my mind and what I am excited about: regime change. Also, I like the color cardinal. Price: $30.00.
4. Busted Tees Grey’s Anatomy Shirt: What do Thursdays remind you of? To me, I am reminded that it’s time to watch Grey’s Anatomy at 9 pm. The show, like the shirt, is funny, outlandish and entertaining. You can’t say that about other medical things that be. Price: $18.99.
5. Despairwear URA Failure Shirt: I have always checked out Despair, Inc’s collection of Despairwear. The creators’ humor is morbid, effective, and – well, desperate. When I wear their shirts, I am not only going to be poking fun at others. I’m also poking fun at myself. The URA Failure shirt is just one example. Price: $18.95.
All of these shirts are below twenty-five dollars. If I ever liked something that’s not quite as inexpensive, what I do is look for coupon codes online. That’s one secret to being casual, looking cool, and buying cheap.
Online Shopping for Christmas August 15, 2008
Posted by mbvh in Uncategorized.Tags: christmas, cooking, coupon codes, nano, online shopping
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Dear Diary,
I can’t believe it’s August already. It will be Christmas season in a few months’ time, and I haven’t even completed my shopping list yet. Who will I include? Who will I leave out? I do know that the number of people in my list will be more conservative this year, given the economic woes the world is experiencing.
Not that I’ll be less generous. I have this reputation for being one of the most extravagant gift givers in the neighborhood, and I won’t allow that to be tarnished just because I am feeling the pinch of a weakened dollar. Besides, giving a lot doesn’t mean spending too much. One only has to be creative with his or her purchases.
That’s why I’m keeping myself in the loop, and working hard to find what’s hot out there. It helps to know where I’ll get the best value for my money. As usual, I’m doing all my research on the Internet. No use window shopping all over the town on four-dollar-a-gallon fuel. It’s a lot more convenient sitting in front of my computer anyway. Today I received a newsletter from Cooking.com. They were advertising 40% off of a selection of their bestselling recipe books, and I know that my sister-in-law Kate –a total control freak in the kitchen– will just go crazy if I gave her one of those for Christmas. I’ve saved the message and moved it to my To Buy Next folder.
I’ve also been copying, pasting, and saving coupon codes for a bunch of possible gift items that I might purchase online. I’ve learned that being thrifty pays off – literally. That’s why, if I can, I avail of the promos and discount offers that take a few more cents, a few more dollars, off of each item. Just last week, while looking for a bottle of wine for a dinner party I was about to attend, I managed to find high-quality Chardonnay being sold at a bargain price. I bought several bottles within the next few days; better to stock up for the season, I thought, before the coupon codes expired.
I am also Googling heavily to have an idea of what I am going to get myself – or what I might subtly suggest others to get for me. I started by typing “Pink Nano, 8 gigabytes”. There are an awful lot of good deals, all of which I have bookmarked and saved in My Favorites folder. Most of them promised free shipping, and another indicated that part of the sale will be used to fight AIDS victims. I am going to drop a hint to my best friend Stephen and tell him it’s high time we make a difference in the lives of the less fortunate. If I have to be more direct I’ll just mouth off the coupon codes.
Anyway, my dear diary, I must sign off for now. I ought to start working on my list; time is ticking fast.
My First Coupon Code August 13, 2008
Posted by mbvh in Uncategorized.Tags: bedding, coupon code, coupon codes, online deals, promo codes
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Here I am at the computer, having just used my first ever coupon code. You know, the digits and letters that allow you to shop for something at a cheaper price, or maybe have it shipped for free.
It’s just like the old days. I remember the time when I redeemed my first But One Take One coupon at the mall. The feeling was a reward in itself; getting an extra pair of sunglasses made the long hot walk from my house to the store all worth it.
My twenty-eight year-old daughter Tara taught me the rudiments of computer use. She was the one who answered my question, “What is Google?” and bought my first ever computer: a Dell. She was the one who tutored me on how to write an E-mail, how to play Solitaire without real cards, how to surf the Internet, and then, only recently, how to shop online. Now I am spending the pleasant summer’s day indoors, satisfied – nay, ecstatic! – after having entered a seemingly random code into a box on a merchant’s website.
And that’s because I just saved an incredible 20% off on an order of new Tommy Hilfiger bedding. That’s an equivalent of almost sixty dollars on savings. And that is why I am blogging about it. It’s not my first ever online purchase, but it is my first ever discounted online purchase. It’s only now that I have realized how simple it is to do that!
If I was totally not abreast of what one can do with a computer, I would have been running around, as I used to, in the mall – looking for a cheap bedding. (It’s supposed to be a wedding gift for my niece Catherine.) Instead I am staying in, without having to bother my husband George (who is still sleeping upstairs, and who, I am sure, will not bother me even while I am at his desk) to drive me off to the town market or some other place where I can shop. What’s even better is that I have the time and the energy to cook a nice, hot meal for lunch today. I have not wasted any time window shopping. George will be pleased.
It is a very cool feeling. Yes, “cool” – most of my friends, who are as old as I am, do not have the slightest idea how in heaven’s name one could buy anything on a computer. Maybe I ought to introduce them to Tara someday; she will be glad to answer my friends’ questions.
Now, let me see where else I can find and use coupon codes. Tara had sent me an E-mail yesterday with a link to Coupon Saver, a useful consumer website that collects and sorts online deals and promo codes for shoppers who want to save money. I am one of those, of course! Even though I am going to begin to make my purchases the new way – the electronic way – I am still the old, thrifty girl who will giggle over a Buy One Take One deal in sheer delight. Only this time, I am not just after sunglasses.
