As the shopping season begins, we're thinking ahead. Should you happen to have any money left over, we think you'll find the following article helpful:
http://www.shopsmartmag.org/files/Stock_up_and_save.pdf
We also check two websites regularly:
www. slickdeals.net
http://www.cheapstingybargains.com/
Happy Shopping!
NV Poema Brut Cava ($10): A solid performer in the cava category. Aggressively fizzy, with apple and grey mineral flavors and a curt lemon-pith finish. A bit rounder mouthfeel, despite impressively low alcohol. Take it to the table. (Importer: Kobrand.) NV Segura Viudas Brut Cava ($10/magnum): Quite simply, the bargain find of the season. This historic Spanish sparkling producer may be a familiar name, and the wine's all ripe apple and yeast, but all you need to know is this. Magnum. Ten bucks. I believe the translation is, "Instant holiday party." NV Villa Sandi Il Fresco Brut Prosecco ($13): A balanced, refreshing effort from a respected producer. Fresh orange and tart candy flavors come in a lighter style, but refined bubbles and some deft sweetness (despite its brut label) round it out in a very pleasing way. (Importer: Folio Wine Co.) 2008 Alta Adelaide Hills Sauvignon Blanc ($10): A classy, delicious effort from Australia. Freshly herbal and peach-filled, with ripe kiwi and grapefruit. Not as austere as Marlborough, but with weight (from some lees contact) and bouncy citrus fruit that keeps giving. (Importer: Specialty Cellars.) 2008 Cave de Pomerols Hugues Beaulieu Coteaux du Languedoc Picpoul de Pinet ($10): An always-fun pick from one of the more successful co-ops in the south of France. Picpoul is one of the obscure Rhone grapes, and this vintage is crisper than some, but there's enough weight to put it on the dinner table. White peppercorn and a floral lift to tangy, sharp lemon and saline flavors. Remember this label. It delivers. (Importer: Kysela Pere et Fils.) 2008 Larry Cherubino The Yard Whispering Hill Vineyard Mount Barker Riesling ($6): Exhibit A of why you always should scour the bargain aisle. Cherubino, onetime winemaker for Tintara and Houghton, created this standout Australian Riesling from vines planted on their own roots in 1987. With beautifully austere stone and lemon pith scents, and laser-like acidity, it will improve for up to a decade. (Importer: Vintage New World.) 2008 Dashwood Winemakers' Selection Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc ($10): Here's the price-killer for those wanting to save a few bucks on their Kiwi fix. Quintessential Marlborough grass notes, with shaved green papaya, pomelo and apricot skin. Racy and focused, with enough weight to match to a meal. (Importer: Pasternak Wine Imports.) 2007 Hedges CMS Columbia Valley White ($12): Washington's Hedges family makes affordable blends under the CMS label, in this case standing for Chardonnay, Marsanne and Sauvignon Blanc. Another reliable value brand to seek. Pretty chervil and buttercup highlights atop the fresh Meyer lemon and Anjou pear. Some decent weight to it, making it ample to take on fish or chicken. 2008 McManis California Viognier ($11): The McManis family and their winemakers deserve credit for a Viognier that seriously outperforms. Harvested mostly from their own vineyards in Manteca and made in steel tanks, it offers substantial peach nectar and wildflower, with perfect typicity. A citrus-zest kick provides that lively edge Viognier so desperately needs. Fantastic value. 2008 Redtree California Pinot Noir ($9): A gulpable Pinot crafted by industry veterans Bob Broman and Roy Cecchetti (Pepperwood Grove), sourced from an unlikely Pinot spot: Lodi. It's this year's runaway success. Bright, true Pinot flavors of Bing cherry and watermelon skin. Straightfoward and juicy, and exactly as it should be. 2008 Castle Rock Central Coast Pinot Noir ($12): Spicy, ripe and performing above Castle Rock's average. Raspberry jam and plum skin, with an honest earthy hint lurking in back but also a touch of sourness. You can find it discounted below $8. 2008 Feeding Frenzy Russian River Valley Pinot Noir ($15): A bargain-priced Pinot with great geography. Dense and darker. Blackberry, orange peel and a clear oak note. Not exactly subtle but ample and bold. 2007 Vinos Sin-Ley M5 Yecla Monastrell ($13): The latest Monastrell (aka Mourvedre) from a Spanish project ("Without Law") to make wines outside the country's traditional rules. Leathery and deep, this bottling from the emerging Yecla region is packed with pleasing bramble fruit and grippy tannins, and given depth by a bright mineral edge. (Importer: Ole.) 2007 Domaine des Escaravailles Les Sablieres Cotes du Rhone ($13): Vibrant berry notes from the Grenache, with a white pepper overtone and a bark-like grip on the palate. Full and food-friendly, exactly what a Cotes du Rhone should be. (Importer: Jeff Wilburn Selections/Wine Agencies Inc.) 2006 Jade Mountain La Provencale California Red Wine ($10): A blend of Syrah, Mourvedre, Carignane and Viognier from a pioneering California Rhone name, now controlled by Diageo. Packed with purple fruit, plus a rich oak overtone and dry-herb accents. Well assembled and gutsy, with a dark, spicy, warm finish. 2006 Montevina Amador County Zinfandel ($8): An appealing new look for this well-known Sierras label. It's solid, reined-in Zin, with spicy plum and cherry, and sweet echoes on the finish that make it user-friendly. 2007 Volver Paso a Paso La Mancha Tempranillo ($9): An outperformer from Spain's La Mancha region, one of importer Jorge Ordonez's screaming Iberian deals. Distinct smoke and plum skin, with mocha, espelette pepper and bright bramble fruit. Tempranillo's classic tannins show up at the end, but mostly as a boost for food. (Importer: Jorge Ordonez/Henry Wine Group.) 2008 Maipe Andean Culture Mendoza Malbec ($13): A hot wine in a hot category, which makes it easy to find around town. Consultant Alberto Antonini (Altos Las Hormigas) also helped propel this new runaway hit. Scents of smoky leaves, violet, currant and huckleberry, with a bright surge of fruit. A mineral edge to the tannins adds depth. (Importer: Kysela Pere et Fils.) 2006 Tin Roof Cellars California Merlot ($10): A solid effort from winemaker Melissa Bates for one of the value labels run by Jackson Family Wines. Distinct oak flavors are balanced by solid black tea and bright plum, with all the pleasing softness of Merlot. 2007 Manifesto North Coast Cabernet Sauvignon ($15): The Manifesto wines are a case of a star winemaker - Jamey Whetstone - focusing on good fruit from a lesser-known corner, in this case Suisun Valley, due east of Napa. They're a great success, and this solid, drinkable Cab is exactly what it should be: with solid oak scents, plus tobacco and dried branches, plus dried currant and juicy blackberry fruit. The screwcap's a plus.
It's a great time to be on the hunt for bargain wine. Discounts abound. Store managers who want to clear their warehouse or balance their books are cutting deals. That means we all should drink well this holiday season, no matter what we can spend.
If you're in your favorite wine shop and you see a closeout or discontinued wine, ask about it and if it sounds good to you, buy a bottle. Go home and drink it and if you like it, then get a case or 2 or 3.....it's a good way take advantage of a bargain.
Here are some examples of good deals. Remember: everyone's taste is different and prices vary from store to store. If you happen to have a Trader Joe's in your area, bargains always abound there.Sparkling
White
Red
Before the new year arrives, it's time to take a look at your health plan coverage. Have you used up your deductible for the year? If so, can you take care of health issues before the end of the year and the new deductible starts? Is a Physical Exam included in your plan? If so, have you taken advantage of it? Let's face it, folks, the Health Insurance business is ripping you off with high premiums and restrictions. Be smart and take advantage of everything included in your plan. You paid for it, so use it!
Here's an article from the Wall St. Journal that enforces what we're saying here:
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703808904574527724157898130.html
Has anyone ever had a good experience with movers?
From time to time we come across new and better information about Travel that we want to share with you. Remember to check out our previous postings first: http://cheapiosity.blogspot.com/2008/03/welcome-to-our-cheapiosity-blog.html and
http://cheapiosity.blogspot.com/2008/03/more-travel-tips.html
While the information is still good, the internet is always changing and so are websites. Here’s more good stuff. Remember this info is good as of the original date of this posting:
Dohop.com This site is strictly for booking flights outside the USA and between cities outside the USA (i.e, Paris to London). It includes the budget airlines (like RyanAir and EasyJet in Europe).
Priceline.com The granddaddy discounter helps hotels, car-rental agencies, and airlines unload all sorts of inventory at well below published prices. We realize Priceline may not be for the faint of heart, but if you’re flexible, it can save you mucho bucks. You can also book the old-fashioned way on Priceline, and their system is no better or worse than Expedia, Orbitz, etc.
TripAdvisor.com This user-hotel-review site is the top way to hunt for hotels. Sometimes the user reviews can be all over the place, but the site can be very helpful. We recently helped a friend find accommodations in Shanghai, and the site proved to be very useful, and he was ultimately pleased with his selection. Kayak-owned TravelPost is another review site, but it’s new and doesn’t have nearly the amount of reviews. We’ll be watching it for the future.
Kayak.com We always check this site for airfares, hotels, and car rentals. Very often they offer the cheapest rates. We also like the way they operate; once you find what you like, they hook you up directly with the website. When doing your research, always include Kayak in your search options. Team CHEAPIOSITY does.
Venere.com spotlights independently owned properties overseas, many of which never show up on American travel sites. Any booking site can point you to large, widely known hotels. But you might prefer to stay in a charming inn or a small property on your next trip, especially if you're traveling to Europe. Venere also offers other kinds of alternative lodging, such as apartments, pensions, and farmhouses.
ID SCORE – WHAT’S THAT?
Everyone has heard of credit scores, but you are probably unfamiliar with ID Scores. Under changes to the Fair Credit Reporting Act going into effect on August first, financial institutions and others will have to have methods in place to detect and respond to instances of ID theft. As a result of this, more companies will want to assure themselves that customers they do business with are really who they say they are. One popular third party application is https://www.myidscore.com/.
The site explains how it works. While the site does ask for your Social Security number and other pieces of personal information, you can do it without the number (but it will render a different less reliable score). Only give out information you’re comfortable divulging. After that, the site calculates your ID score and you get a free copy.
You might want to take a look at our previous post that discuss Identity Security: http://cheapiosity.blogspot.com/2008/03/identity-security-stamps.html
As if your credit score wasn’t enough to worry about, now there’s more!
We all know the expression ‘penny-wise and pound foolish.’ While it's usually wise to watch your pennies, sometimes thrift can cost you big money in the long run. Make sure your cost-cutting efforts make sense. Some of the best intentioned efforts to economize can get very expensive.
Here are a few "saving strategies" to avoid at all costs:
Delaying visits to the doctor and dentist, especially for children.
You’ve lost your health insurance and you think can’t afford to go to your doctor or dentist. We get it. Life is hard, BUT delaying preventive maintenance visits may lose your ability to nip a problem in the bud, and that problem could cost you thousands later. So...the bottom line is this. Don't put off routine medical and checkups, especially for children; delayed immunizations and dental care will cost you more to correct later.
Choosing cheaper, poorly-made products.
We have a friend who will remain nameless even though we could name her and she'd never know. If she regularly read CHEAPIOSITY, she wouldn't be a shining What-Not-To-Do example for us, would she? Still, we'll protect her anonymity. Let's call her Jerkina.
Jerkina will drive twenty-five miles out of her way to save a quarter. A classic example of penny-wise. Jerkina continues to buy cheap stuff though we've tried to share the wisdom. Because she bought the cheap and shoddy outdoor sprinkler system, she continues to have leaks and ends up repairing and replacing it more frequently than she would have had she spent more money on the trouble-free system we recommended. She always shops for price over quality and ends up overpaying in the long run….some people never learn. Poor Jerkina.
Same thing holds true when buying a cars. You may pay less when you buy a cheaper brand, but you need to consider reliability when figuring the real costs of a car. Check Consumer Reports Annual Car Buying Guide for the specs you need to make an informed decision.
Also, before you rush in to repair an old car, check the Kelley Blue Book price on the car first. You don't want to rebuild an engine or replace a tramsmission if the car is worth less than the repairs will cost. Don't throw good money after bad.
The same theory holds true when you buy cheap consumer electronics and off-brands…bargains aren't always bargains. How soon will your El Cheapo Piece O Crappo break? Most junk is made to replace, not repair. Think value. When a price on what should be a durable good seems too low to be true, it probably is.
Buying products in smaller packages.
While the small package may be cheaper now, the price per unit is going to be more. If you use something all the time, buy larger or in bulk and save. One word about bulk…..only buy something in bulk if you’ll use it all. Buying in bulk costs more if you discard a portion of it.
Opting to enroll in store credit cards.
It is tempting to open an instant credit card in order to receive 15% off your purchase, a common offer in department stores. While the immediate discount sounds tempting, by adding a credit card to your arsenal, most likely a credit card with a high interest rate, you could end up far exceeding the price you would pay if you chose not to open the credit card. Not to mention the impact the additional debt has on your credit. Limit yourself to lower interest credit cards (and don’t be afraid to negotiate a rate with them), if you don’t pay your balance in full. Very often you’ll find a coupon in the newspaper or online for the same discount. Everything seems to be on sale at department stores these days.
As we've made abundantly clear, we're big supporters of smart shopping at thrift stores to build up a terrific and bargain-friendly wardrobe.
In tough economic times like these, we start thinking about how we can cut back on the cost of living. We're ever on the lookout for good deals and trying to see if we can get anything for free. Every little bit helps. And this includes food.
With a little legwork and a little research, it should be possible to find a free meal. With that goal in mind, here are 25 Ways You Can Eat For Free.
Forage. Look for wild growing foods. Nuts, fruits, and other plants can provide sustenance for free. Martha Stewart had one of her cooks on the show demonstrating an Asian recipe and told the audience that the cook goes through her gardens and pulls out what Martha considered weeds and cooks them up into delicious dishes. If Martha will eat it, then so can you. Take dandelions as an example.....dandelion salad anyone?? Foraging can also be a fun family activity. Just make sure you understand what is safe to eat, and what is not. Check locally to find out if wild food tours are offered, or try to locate a master gardener, agricultural extension or horticulturist to help you identify edible plants. If foraging seems too risky, spend a few dollars for a range of seeds or flats and plant a garden. If it's good enough for the First Lady...
Fish. Learn how to fish. Learn how to clean and prepare fish, and you can prepare a free meal easily. You might even consider Hunting. Acquiring appropriate gear and the license fees cost more, and many people are not comfortable with this option. Thank you, Bambi.
Go to church or synagogue. Many other religious denominations offer free food at activities ranging from scripture study to fellowshipping events to holiday programs.
Mystery shopping. Sign up to be a 'mystery shopper' and sometimes it's to try a restaurant. Watch out for scams, however. Not all mystery shopping opportunities are legitimate.
Barter. As the recession deepens, Bartering is actually making a bit of a comeback. If you have skills and knowledge that others can use, trade them for a free meal or for some kind of foodstuffs.
Free grocery samples. Have you ever been to a Sam’s Club or Costco on a Saturday afternoon? You can eat an entire meal for free by moving around the samples stations. Many stores offer free samples, and many of them do it on a predictable schedule. Get a feel for when stores are offering freebies, and get in line.
Go home. Nothing beats a home-cooked, free meal from Mom. And you’ll get in some quality bonding time.
Continental breakfast. When you travel, check to see whether your hotel/motel offers a free continental breakfast. This usually includes cold cereal, bread products and juice.
Special promotions. Keep an eye out for special promotions. Many restaurants offer them, especially fast food restaurants. Recent promotions we've spotted include: Senior promotions for those 55 and older, college student promotions and discounts with school ID, and promotions recently run by chains like Quizno’s (first 1 million people get a free sub) and Denny’s (free Grand Slam breakfast).
Coupons. Careful couponing can lead to free food. Buy food on sale with coupons. We're not coupon experts, but when you know how to properly use your coupons, you can get your groceries for very, very little — and many items for free. And, of course, there are those coupons that allow you a buy one, get one free on some items, as well as restaurant coupons that help you get a free entree or drink.
Become a freegan. Perhaps you’ve heard about freeganism. It’s all about foraging for used, still in good condition items, from urban dumping grounds. It’s extreme, and many people are uncomfortable with it. Perfectly good — or nearly perfectly good — food is often tossed out from grocery stores and restaurants. I think you know where this is going.
Eating free in COLLEGE.
College students are notoriously hungry — and poor. Here are some places you can go if you are looking for a free meal in college:
Campus food services. We worked at the campus cafeteria for two years while in college. At the end of every shift, workers were allowed to have a free meal. If there were enough leftovers, we could even box up some of the food and take it home. Many campuses also have grills, cafes and catering services. Even working in a restaurant off-campus can lead to free food. (This trick works even if you aren’t in college.)
Clubs. Join a club, get free food. Many clubs include some money for food at events in their budgets. Attend an “information” meeting, and you’ll most likely see some form of free food.
Art openings and films. Student art shows and film festivals are great places to score free food. Most of the time, a “reception” is held with food and beverage. You can go nosh a little and enjoy the arts.
Get to know your professors. Lots of professors like to be buddies with their students. If you show initiative in class, and an interest in the subject matter, you might find yourself invited over for dinner.
Conferences and seminars. Many campuses host professional and academic conferences and seminars. In many cases, students are allowed to some of the sessions. It is often possible to get free food at a reception or meeting during the course of the conference or meeting.
Open houses and orientations. Many organizations on campus offer open houses. Greek societies, honor societies, new buildings recently constructed and new programs offer open houses so that you can visit the premises. And one of the draws is free food. Orientations offer similar opportunities. Even as a senior, it is possible to score free food when you attend freshman orientation.
Web sites to help you find free food
Thanks to the Internet, it is possible to find even more free food. Go online to find good deals and places where you can eat free. Here are some Web sites that can help you enjoy food at little to no cost.
My Kids Eat Free provides a list of more than 2,500 locations in all 50 states that allow your kids to eat free. You can get free kids meals and more when you look for the right deals. (Locally, check for “kid’s night” at buffets, pancakes houses and other restaurants.)
TheFreeSite.com includes a list of freebie Web sites that can point you to special offers on food. And there’s more than just food here — there are freebies on a number of other products and services.
Restaurant.com Can help you find great deals and get you restaurant gift certificates on discount. You can get $25 certificates by paying $10. That’s $15 of free food!
FreeMania can help you find free food from grocery stores, restaurants and other sources. Plus, there are free recipes (to help you cook your free food) and other savings. FreeMania also offers directories to other free items.
Grocery Coupon Guide helps you develop strategies to maximize your grocery (and other) coupons to help you get the most bang for buck — and even get items for free.
FreakyFreddies.com provides access to free food samples. A great list of food manufacturers and restaurants from Quaker, Betty Crocker, Splenda, Red Bull, Starbucks, Chili’s, Arby’s and much, much more.
ShotAtHome.com provides coupons and other savings from a number of stores — including grocery stores and health food stores and co-ops. Sign up for emails for free coupons and other savings.
FreeRice.com is an interesting and fun site for wordsmiths who want to help provide free food for others. Answer a series of questions about word meanings, and every time you get one right, ten grains of rice are donated to the UN World Food Program. A free way to help others get free food.
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