Living the 20-Per-Cent-Off Life

Robin — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 19:24:26 +0000

Hey, this is even more than 20%!

You can thank (if you’re a consumer; blame if you’re a retailer) Bed Bath & Beyond and Linens ‘n Things (RIP) for the fabulous trend of stores selling everything they own for a 20% or more discount off the suggested retail prices. They’ve started something that has cut stores’ profit margins and added value to almost every consumer shopping trip forever!

(Kudos too, while we’re at it, to Macys, which many years ago started the pre-Christmas sale, and the constant one-day sales, effectively training their customers to never, ever pay full retail.)

I was personally thrilled to find that BB&B had started carrying drugstore items, too. (See my post Drugstore Junkie for more on this.) Hey, 20% off generally beats the best discounts at the pharmacy chains, and saves a trip. And now, going into the Holiday Shopping season, lots of other stores have jumped on the bandwagon. Just this week, not even Halloween yet, my local paper carried 20 % or greater discounts from Old Navy, Michaels crafts, and a local decorator. If this year is anything like last, you should soon be seeing more and better discounts, right off the top of any purchase, from such varied retailers as Toys R Us, Sports Authority, Party City, Best Buy, Macys, Walmart (They stole my quote: Save Money. Live Better), Ulta Beauty, GNC, Vitamin World, Firestone Tires, Sears and others. Many of these will accept multiple, expired and competitors’ coupons, too.

While getting my fingers all inky on the Sunday paper is my favorite way of finding coupons, you can now go online to do the same. These are some of the better sites for coupons and coupon codes:

www.Big Crumbs.com This one also gives you cash back at many retailers!

www.thegrocerygame.com

Wanna be a savvy couponer? Check out The Couponizer, for a new way to organize your coupons and maximize your savings.

Getting into the holiday spirit, we’ll be looking at the best and cheapest ways to party, shop, decorate and save on all. Starting with, of course, Halloween — click here for lots of great ideas for cheap or free costumes.

I LOVE a Good Bargain! » Food

Living the 20-Per-Cent-Off Life