CHEAP DEALS BY DAYS OF THE WEEK

Did you know that all shopping days are not created equal?
Team CHEAPIOSITY knows. And now you do too.

You can shop a lot smarter when you know which days are the best days to go shopping.

Here's the rundown, day by day:

MONDAY
CARS - Since most car sales happen over weekends, dealerships are pretty much dead on Mondays. You can take advantage of that fact. FYI: Car salesmen are particularly desperate to meet their sales quotas on the last Monday (and the last few days) of the month.

TUESDAY
GROCERIES - Most sale items end on Tuesdays. Maybe something's on sale that you don't need right now. On the last day of a sale, the item might be sold out so you can get a raincheck at the sale price and redeem it later when you do need it. Tuesday's a great day to use your coupons from the Sunday papers; you're not so likely to forget or lose your coupons when you use them early in the week .

WEDNESDAY
ENTERTAINMENT - Many movie theaters, museums and amusement parks offer additional discounts mid-week. Many offer additional perks on Wednesdays to entice an audience. For example, AMC Theaters offer their rewards members free popcorn.

THURSDAY
GAS - Fill up before 10 a.m. That's when station owners tend to raise prices for weekend travel. The rats.

CLOTHING - Stores stock up for their weekend sales on Thursday evenings; that's the time you'll find the best selection and the best prices.

BOOKS - Borders (and other chains) release their weekly coupons on Thursdays.

SATURDAY
DEPARTMENT STORES - Before closing on Saturday evening, stores tend to markdown for Sunday's newspaper circular sales. Ask the sales personnel to see the circular early, and if they haven't yet marked down a sales item, you may be able convince them to do it for you. Sneaky.

SUNDAY
HOTEL ROOMS - Managers are looking to fill up rooms that haven't been filled for the upcoming week. Call the hotel directly on Sunday, and you'll be pleasantly surprised at the cheap deals you can find.

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DECEMBER BARGAINS

Yeah yeah, we know. Everything seems to be on sale this month, but there are some special bargains worth your attention and possibly even your hard-earned dough.

TV and HOME THEATER: You will see significant price drops in December. Some savvy shoppers advise waiting just a tad longer for your upgrade, assuming that the prices will drop even lower before the Superbowl telecast.
Remember that digital broadcasting begins in February 2009, so if you or someone you know (or an elderly neighbor or relative) still picks up TV signals "over the airwaves" with an antenna (this does not apply to cable or satellite subscribers), you may want to pick up a digital TV or that converter box we told you about in March. (http://cheapiosity.blogspot.com/2008/04/tv-digital-conversion.html) Do a good deed. We have visions of a nation full of technologically challenged grandmothers living alone in little apartments, befuddled, staring at snow on the screen, with no Wheel of Fortune, crying themselves to sleep. Don't make our nightmares come true.

VIDEO GAMES: Manufacturers release their new products at this time of the year so there's plenty of competition for this sought-after gift idea.

MAJOR APPLIANCES: Know why? We'll tell you why. During the colder months, in reaction to weather-related construction and remodeling slowdowns, major appliance purchases go down so sales are abundant.

PARTY GOODS: PAPER and PLASTICWARE: This is the best time to stock up for the year as the items go on sale. (A caveat: Think long and hard about using disposables; it's economical and ecological to go green as much as possible.)

BIKES and GAS GRILLS: We've mentioned this in previous months, and they continue to be on sale. We don't know why bikes and gas grills go together. If you think of a reason, let us know. We're stumped.

TOYS: Like we have to even tell you this. Open any newspaper or circular. It's like Christmas.

LANDSCAPING TOOLS: Don't wait until next Spring when the stores are getting top dollar. Do it now when business is slow and prices are low. Plan ahead. To paraphrase Voltaire's Candide, Cultivate your garden. And do it CHEAPIOSITY-style: Buy a cheap hoe.

One other shopping note. If you're shopping online, there are many free shipping offers, so pay attention and save yourself a bit more. Those shipping costs, however nominal, add up. Shop around.

And Happy New Year. Drive safely.

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SEVEN ALERT SERVICES THAT HELP YOU SAVE

Here at Team CHEAPIOSITY, we're busy readying our cheap yet delicious Thanksgiving dinner and feverishly working out to be in peak physical condition for Black Friday sales. However, so as not to disappoint our loyal readers, here's a link to an article in Smart Money that can be quite helpful for shoppers at this time of the year:

http://www.smartmoney.com/spending/deals/7-alert-services-that-help-you-save/

Team CHEAPIOSITY wishes you all a Happy Thanksgiving and even happier bargain shopping on Friday. Let us know what you find out there...

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EVEN HAPPIER HOLIDAYS...

Last week we told you about Black Friday. While the country’s financial woes continue, let's look at the admittedly very dim bright side. What’s bad news for Retailers is good news for Consumers.

Discounters like TJ Maxx, outlet stores like Saks Fifth Avenue’s Off Fifth and websites like Overstock.com have much better selections because of retailer’s excess inventory that’s not selling in brick and mortar stores. You’ll see Designer names like, Gucci, Marc Jacobs, Prada, Jimmy Choo, and more at discounts up to 75% off. You’ll also see these bargains at rival discounters like: Ross, SteinMart, DSW and DFS Stores. And let’s not forget B&H Factory Outlet, Inc. on eBay, where dresses start at a shockingly low 99 cents!

These deals are not limited to fashion. Online sellers like http://www.blogger.com/www.dyscern.com have great deals on handheld electronics and http://www.tigerdirect.com/ has been buying cancelled retailer orders for the past 3-4 weeks. Check out their site for great deals on computers, monitors, LCD TVs, etc. Make sure you look at the bottom of their webpage for “edeals.”

Before you buy, we urge you to re-read our July posting about shopping online, to make sure you get the lowest price possible: http://cheapiosity.blogspot.com/2008/07/how-to-shop-online.html

Check out: http://www.cheapstingybargains.com/; they know their stuff. We urge you to subscribe so you too can look forward to reading weekly (or more frequent when the spirit moves) newsletter emails.

Walmart boasts on its site that the average family of four can pocket a whopping $2,000 a year by opting for bulk purchases instead of smaller sizes. We're not entirely sure that's true, but the theory isn't bad, assuming nothing goes to waste. (We suspect that the average Walmart family of four might be slightly bulky themselves if they manage to consume such large quantities without waste.) Since buying in bulk can be something of a risk for most of us, we'd like to offer you some tips before your next trip to your favorite warehouse store. Wandering around Costco and Sam’s Club, we tend to get hypnotized by all the "bargains" and free samples. Treat your warehouse store like a regular grocery store. Try to avoid impulse purchases as much as you can. Shop with a list. A bargain's not a bargain if you don't use it, and you're probably not saving any money if you wind up disposing of an unused portion.

At this time of the year, warehouse stores offer plenty of good gift deals, especially for those ubiquitous semi-anonymous obligation type gifts: co-workers, doormen, and teachers for example. Shop smart and you'll find significantly discounted gift cards (20%) to other retailers like Starbucks and See's Chocolates. If you're savvy, you can find terrific deals on gift baskets and other seasonal items as well.

Just remember our motto: No matter how deep the discount, it's not a bargain if you don't really need it. Be careful out there.

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BLACK FRIDAY EARLY

According to an article last week in The New York Times: “Sales at the nation’s largest retailers fell off a cliff in October, casting fresh doubt on the survival of some chains and signaling that this will probably be the weakest Christmas shopping season in decades.” Sales at luxury stores like Neiman Marcus and Saks Fifth Avenue were off as well as mainstream retailers like The Gap while deep discounters like Walmart posted gains.

For years, the day after Thanksgiving has been termed Black Friday because it’s one of the busiest (and most profitable) shopping days of the year. That’s how the day got its name. Merchants have historically relied on Black Friday to move out of the red and into the black, hence showing a profit. And dedicated holiday shoppers have taken full advantage of the bargains. If you've never braved the crowds before, this might be the year that the stores make you an offer you can't refuse.

Because of the state of the economy, some retailers are having Black Friday sales early. While we don’t wish our nation's struggling retailers ill, it is our mission here at Team CHEAPIOSITY to help consumers. Retailer's losses can be your gain, and your participation in the enterprise can be the gift that keeps on giving.

Kmart just started offering a rotating array of deeply discounted specials and will continue to do so through November 23. Each week, 15 different products, including many home electronics, will be featured in store circulars, available in print and on the company’s Web site.

Deep discounting is going on at Walmart, too. The company just announced that it’s be rolling back prices on thousands of items, from food and board games to coffeemakers and toys, every week for the next seven weeks as part of a initiative called Operation Main Street. The rollbacks, according to Wal-Mart, amount to $200 million in additional savings for consumers.

On November 16, 2008, Sears is having Friends and Family VIP Night. Discounts abound both in store and on line. For details, go to: http://www.sears.com/shc/s/dap_10153_12605_DAP_Sears+VIP?SID=IOx20080312x00001

In the meantime, don’t wait until the last minute to learn about Black Friday blockbusters at other stores. You can often check out many of the deals in advance at Web sites such as: http://www.bfads.net/, http://www.black-friday.net/, http://www.theblackfriday.com/, http://www.tgiblackfriday.com/, and http://www.blackfriday.info/.

Just remember our motto: No matter how deeply discounted, it's not a bargain if you don't really need it. Be careful out there.

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NOVEMBER BARGAINS

The elections are over, and you know what that means. We can finally exhale. While some may start counting down the shopping days till Christmas, we’re more excited that our eight long years of Bush-bashing (and his eight long years of nation-destroying) are finally coming to a close. We enter this new historical era with high hopes, depleted savings accounts, gutted stock portfolios, mortgaged to the hilt, and with no real employment on the horizon. Still. We expect truly great things from our new President and we dare to feel optimistic. But enough bloviating. You want politics, go to the Huffington Post. We’re here to save you some money.

Before we offer our November bargain tips, we should remind you about items we mentioned in our September and October posts that are still on sale in November. If you’re in the market for BIKES, GAS GRILLS, TOYS and COOKWARE, this is still a great time to hit the stores or the web.

HEATERS: As cold weather approaches, stores are fully stocked with space heaters. Look for bargains now while there's the biggest selection and you can buy exactly what you need. Wait, CHEAPIOSITY. Are you sure we shouldn’t wait a while until the merchants need to clear the floor space for Valentine chocolates and lawn furniture so we can snage a deal? Here’s the thing: if you shop now, you won’t get stuck buying more heater than you want because the smaller, cheaper model is out of stock. Truly savvy shoppers would have purchased their ideal heater last year at the end of the season. But we weren’t there to guide you way back then. We’re here for you now, and that’s what’s important.

COMPUTERS: This month is considered a good time for cheap computers. In December, retailers will be getting computers with bigger upgrades and new gadgetry, so they are looking to decrease inventory to make room for next month's shipments. A WARNING: Check out all the offers thoroughly; sometimes these very cheap deals include very limited software bundles that will wind up costing you a big bundle. Read the fine print. Some computers are stripped down a bit and may provide you with the operating system only, no extras. It may cost you well over $100 to set up your system with Word, Outlook, Excel, etc. Suddenly that cheap deal becomes a lot more expensive. Of course, if you already have a computer, you can transfer most of the software you already have. Educate yourself before you buy. Caveat emptor. Duh.

BLANKETS: November is a good month to buy bedding and blankets in particular, so don't wait for the temperatures to drop....buy now. Prepare yourself now for a long cozy hibernation. Lower that thermostat and snuggle up. Go green without turning blue.

WEDDING GOWNS: This month is an excellent time to find good deals. Why? Well, we’re here to tell you why. Many couples get engaged during the holidays, so business is comparatively slow right now, which is good for discounts. But I don’t have a fiancé, you say. Then step away from the bridal wear. Seriously. That’s just creepy. However, you have our tacit permission to check out Formal Gowns if you're in need. They’re also something of a bargain in November, and you won’t scare away any date who happens to sneak a peek in your closet.

TURKEYS: If you’re paying retail for a turkey, you don’t deserve to read any further. You're on the wrong website. (Of course, if you’re one of those organic-free-range-only-the-best-will-do-special-order-from-a-fancy-butcher-or-specialty-store chefs, we’re not really talking to you. And please invite us over to eat.) Supermarkets lure Thanksgiving shoppers in with offers that make the centerpiece of your celebration practically free. They depend on your spending the rest of your money in the store while you’re lugging out your free bird. Thank you, Lynyrd Skynyrd. Anyway, check around. You can save a bundle…and if you’re lucky enough to have a large freezer, put a couple away for the long winter months ahead. Gobble gobble.

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SURPRISING EXPIRATION DATES

These days nobody wants to throw anything out unless it's absolutely necessary. Real Simple did a great story on 77 items. Print it up and post it in your kitchen. Maybe you can even make it a guessing game for some cheap family fun.

http://www.realsimple.com/realsimple/content/print/0,22304,676079,00.html

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