Bargain Hunting Blog

Southwest Airlines New York City Service

Finally, New York City travelers will be able to conveniently take advantage of Southwest Airline’s low air fares! Beginning June 28, Southwest will begin service in LaGaurdia airport with 3 daily nonstops to Baltimore/Washington (BWI) and 5 daily nonstops to Chicago (Midway).  By connecting to through Southwest flights at these airports, New York City travelers and New York City visitors will be able to use almost all of Southwest Airline’s destinations.

See Southwest Airlines Promotions

See Southwest Vacation Promotions

Finding Deals in a Recession – 6 Bargain Hunting Tips

In an economic downturn it is important to become a frugal shopper.  There are many ways to avoid paying full price for the things you need, but here are six money saving shopping tips that will help you in a good or bad economy.

1. Research and Know Exactly What You Need:
Whether it’s a camera, bookshelf, or TV, make sure you do some research before buying.  Learning about specific products and brands, decreases the chance that you will make an uninformed impulse purchase.  Research will also help you recognize a good deal when you see it.

2. Shop Patiently and Plan Ahead:
The best sales occur during certain times of year like before, during, and after holidays or at the end of seasons.  Plan ahead and give yourself time to find a bargain.  If you know you’re going to need a new winter coat next year, start looking for it at the end of winter or in early spring.

3. Always Price Compare:
The web has made it easier than ever to compare prices for products and services.  With just a few clicks of you’re mouse you can browse price comparison sites or the actual websites of competing merchants.  Some price comparison websites have the added bonus of providing merchant and product reviews.

4. Use Discount and Coupon Websites:
By locating and displaying thousands of online deals and coupon codes, these sites take some of the work out of bargain hunting.  Before you’re ready make a purchase, just do a web search using the merchant name or product name with words like coupon code or promotion (i.e. “Widget Factory coupon code” or “digital camera promotions”).  The search will return several websites where you might find a coupon code or deal that provides extra savings.  Checkout a few of these sites, because some have better offers than others.

5. Join Merchant Email Lists
If you don’t mind getting a few marketing emails each month, being on their email list is a good way to get the best deals from a merchant.  Emailing current and potential customers is the most cost effective way to market products.  Because this form of marketing is so effective and affordable, merchants can include the best promotions.

6. Submit an Incomplete Order
Sometimes when you start an order on a website and don’t finish it, you get offered a discount to complete that order.  Some companies will prompt you with a discount when you try to navigate to another website and others may send a discount email within a few days of noticing your incomplete order.  As the competition to get customers on the web increases, this type of thing will become more common.  This is one more reason why it pays to be patient when shopping.

Orbitz Price Assurance for Hotels

This new Orbitz promotion always allows you to get the best price on a hotel booking through Orbitz.  Here is how Orbitz Price Assurance for hotels works.  If another Orbitz customer books the same prepaid hotel for less than you, Orbitz will automatically send you a cash refund for the difference.

Southwest Airlines Vacations Promotions

Southwest Airlines Vacations offers the most affordable vacation packages to destinations like California, Arizona, Las Vegas, Orlando, Utah, and more.  Southwest Airlines Vacation promotions include flights (via Southwest Airlines) and hotel accommodations. Some deals also come with rental car reservations, show tickets, ski lift tickets, and attraction passes (Disney World, etc.).  Southwest Vacations packages are customizable, convenient, affordable, and above all fun.  All destination packages are bargain priced, but click here to see the current FEATURED DEALS.

Circuit City Liquidation and Closing Sale

Circuit City is having a going out of business sale.  All 567 Circuit City stores will start selling products at liquidation and clearance sale prices immediately.  According to the Cirtuit City website (which is no longer open for shopping), the liquidation sales will start in some stores as early as Saturday, January 17.  These sales will run as long as it takes to sell all inventory.  When all the inventory is sold the store will be closed.  store locator >> 

This Circuit City liquidation sale will have many great deals, but shop with care.  A liquidation sale does not automatically mean the lowest price available.  During liquidations, retailers know that there is a tendency to be impatient and impulsive, so some prices may not be real bargains.  Take your time, and do some research before buying.  This will insure that you don't get taken advantage of.  Always keep in mind that the purpose of these sales is to generate as much money as possible in order to pay down the company's debt.  If they can sell a hot item at a higher price, they will certainly try.  Also, don't be afraid to negotiate price.

Here are a few things you should know about the Circuit City liquidation sale..

• All sales are final, no returns, or refunds are available.

• Circuit City gift cards will still be honored.

• Delivery service is not available.

• Installation and repair services are not available.

• Extended warranties will continue to be provided by the third-party that issued the warranty.

• A Circuit City Advantage warranty can be purchased for liquidation sale products. This service is provided by a third-party and will not be affected by Circuit City's closing.

• Circuit City's price matching guarantee is not available.

Save Money With a Solar Charger from Solio

All of the portable devices we use consume a lot of electricity.  Solar chargers are eco-friendly, plus they help you save on your electricity bill.  Over time these savings can be very significant.  Solio and other solar chargers use the free and limitless power of the sun to re-charge portable devices. Solio Solar chargers are compatible with cell phones (Samsung, LG, Blackberry, Motorola, Nokia, iPhone, Nextel, and more), digital cameras, iPods, MP3 players, portable game players (Nintendo and Sony PSP), and gps devices (Garmin).

A Solio Solar charger can help you save up to $200 a year on electricity.

Free TaxCut Software - TaxCut Online Free Edition + Free E-File

If your federal income tax is very simple this year (form 1040EZ), H&R Block offers a free online version of it's award winning TaxCut software. This version is very easy to use. You will be guided through a simple step by step federal income tax interview. Just enter the requested information and the TaxCut software will do the rest. When you are finished you can e-file your return for free. The free online version includes:

• Quick & easy tax return completion

• Automatic error check
• Accurate Calculations Guarantee

If you find that the free TaxCut Online version does not meet all of your needs, you can upgrade at any time to one of H&R Block's more powerful TaxCut Online versions.

Outlet Shopping NYC - Woodbury Commons

New Yorkers looking for great deals on name brand products only need to take a short 1 hour bus or car ride to Woodbury Commons Outlets, in Woodbury, NY. Woodbury Commons is perfect for New York shoppers, because it is not your average Outlet Mall. Among the 220 outlet stores you’ll find outlets for the same brands found on New York City’s famous 5th Avenue. You’ll find tremendous outlet savings for Burberry, Coach, Dolce and Gabbana, Armani, Saks 5th Avenue, Ralph Lauren, Prada, and many more high-end retailers.  Plus, savvy shoppers will find outlets like Gap, Banana Republic, Timberland, and Nike that are common in other outlet malls.

To get even more savings take the Gray Line or Shortline bus from New York City’s Port Authority. It’s really easy to do and the buss ticket entitles you to a Woodbury Commons VIP Coupon Book. The VIP Coupon Book contains 100’s of coupons for additional savings at various Outlet stores.

When is Cyber Monday 2008? What is Cyber Monday?

What is Cyber Monday? Cyber Monday is the Monday after Thanksgiving. It is considered the busiest online shopping day of the year, because it is the first day consumers are back in the office after Thanksgiving. On this day, millions of American office workers have traditionally found a little time to surf the web for the best online deals of the year. Of course, this could not happen without retailers doing their part and providing big discounts. When is Cyber Monday 2008? This year Cyber Monday is on Monday, December 1.

Cyber Monday is fabulous day to find great sales, but don't get discouraged if you don't find the deal you're looking for on that day. With the tough economic environment there will be plenty of huge sales leading up to Christmas. Plus, if you are not in a hurry don't forget the huge deals that can be found during after Christmas sales.

The Incomplete Order - Shopping Tip

It’s happened to me, more than once, that I’ve been offered an additional savings by an online retailer simply by not completing a purchase.  If I’ve gone so far as to give my name, email address, and other personal information at check-out, but then change my mind and leave the page before submitting the order, the retailer sometimes emails me, offering a discount of up to 15% if I go back and complete the purchase.

This doesn’t always happen, but it might be worth a shot especially if your not in a rush. Let me know if this happens to you, and I’ll compile a list of retailers that offer this service.