Shop-O-Matic blog alert |
- Black Friday Survival Guide: Top tips to plan your Nov. 23 shopping strategy
- Fresh Market hosts "Taste of the Holidays" sampling events Friday and Saturday
- It's Freebie Friday! Check our megalist of free stuff and coupons
- Free Publix Stocking Spree booklet offers $50 in coupons
- $10 off $30 purchase at Bath & Body Works
- Free Butterball turkey for Thanksgiving at BJ's Wholesale Club
- Free 60-day membership at BJ's Wholesale Club
- Free entry to museums on Saturday and Sunday
- Sears to open at 8 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day for Black Friday
- Amazon.com launches Black Friday deals
| Black Friday Survival Guide: Top tips to plan your Nov. 23 shopping strategy Posted: 02 Nov 2012 06:54 AM PDT
There are just three weeks to go before the midnight madness begins on Nov. 23. We're talking about Black Friday, and if you want to score the best deals on holiday gifts, you'll need to use the next few weeks to draw up a battle plan by deciding what to buy and researching where to go to get the most bang for your buck. "People get caught up in the hype and emotion of Black Friday and get swept away by overbuy during the frenzy and the excitement," says Jodi Furman, right, a shopping and savings expert in Lake Worth. "Make a plan and a list and stick to it. Do not make any impulse purchases if it's not on your list. Not matter how good the price, it's not a bargain if you don't need it." Furman, who writes the shopping and savings blog LiveFabuLESS.com, says you can sniff out the best bargains before and after Black Friday with a little planning. Here's her top tips on how to score the best deals: Set a spending limit. Focus on what you need and what you can afford. Furman suggests you figure out how much you can afford to spend, set the budget and stick to it. "The best gift you can give to your family is one of financial stability. If you can't afford to pay cash for a present right now, perhaps you don't really need to be buying it." Do your homework. Check sales fliers online (many are already posted) and get the Thanksgiving Day newspaper to see what deals are being offered at what times. "Research what you what to buy now. Visit BFAds.net or BlackFriday.fm for a good overview of upcoming sales. These sites have search functions that help you find the best offers on what you want to purchase." Let someone else do your homework. Check popular savings sites like TotallyTarget.com and IHeartTheMart.com. They focus on the best sales at Target and Walmart. "These sites do the legwork for you so you can relax and enjoy your Thanksgiving turkey and not stress about the sales." Score free gift cards. Some stores also offer free gift cards with purchase on popular electronics like iPods and video game consoles, she says. "Research those deals. They will be well advertised." Find shopping buddies. If you want to get items at more than one store, Furman suggests using the "divide and conquer" method. "If there are two or three of you, divide your lists between each person and one goes to each store to get the bargains for everyone." Use technology. Sign up for emails and text messages from your favorite retailers so you'll automatically be notified of special offers. "Consult shopping blogs and download smartphone apps so you can get more for less. Not just less money, less stress, less time, less effort and less running around." Furman recommends downloading apps like RedLaser.com for iPhone and ShopSavvy.com for Android smartphones. "Use the camera to scan barcodes and check prices online and brick-and-mortar stores to be sure you're getting the best price. ShopKick also offers cash back and points for shopping at certain retailers. Get rebates. Get cash back for online purchases by using sites like Ebates.com, FatWallet.com and Swagbucks.com. "The sites offer a percentage of your online purchases back in cash." Use price matching. For the first time, Target is price matching online competitors Walmart, Amazon, Best Buy and Toys R Us, Furman says. Save sales receipts in case you find a better price at a later date. "Some stores will do a price match and a price adjust so you'll be able to get what you paid at the current advertised price. You won't have to return the items and rebuy them. Just bring in your receipt with the ad (if you have it) to get your money back." Saving receipts serves another purpose, too. "If you do accidentally overbuy, you can return items to keep within your baudget." If you don't feel like going out in the middle of the night, you'll still find great bargains, Fuman says. "You don't need to run around to a bunch of different stores in the middle of the night," Furman says. "There are great sales offered after Black Friday. There is usually another sales surge Dec. 8-10 and then again around Dec. 22-24. Just watch the newspaper ads." Three ways to keep up with the latest deals: "Like" our Sentinel Deals page on Facebook; follow Doreen Christensen on Twitter@PrettyGoodIdeas and sign up for Deals text alerts. 
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| Fresh Market hosts "Taste of the Holidays" sampling events Friday and Saturday Posted: 02 Nov 2012 05:53 AM PDT
Stop in from noon to 6 p.m. on Friday and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and get in the holiday mood with free samples of prepared holiday meals. Sampling stations will feature turkey, standing rib roast, smoked salmon, bacon, holiday pies, desserts and cheesecakes. The Fresh Market is now taking orders for complete holiday meals and ala carte menu items too. Thanksgiving catalog, party platter brochures and holiday order forms are now available in stores. Click here to see the holiday meal options available for preorder. There are 10 South Florida locations. The events is being held at all 127 U.S. stores. Three ways to keep up with the latest deals: "Like" our Sentinel Deals page on Facebook; follow Doreen Christensen on Twitter@PrettyGoodIdeas and sign up for Deals text alerts.
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| It's Freebie Friday! Check our megalist of free stuff and coupons Posted: 02 Nov 2012 05:15 AM PDT
It's Freebie Friday! Let's celebrate with a fresh edition of our huge freebie free-for-all! We've stuffed our list with free samples and coupons to save your hundreds of dollars on shopping, dining and fun things to do. Use it to save all weekend. Three ways to keep up with the latest deals: "Like" our Sentinel Deals page on Facebook; follow Doreen Christensen on Twitter@PrettyGoodIdeas and sign up for Deals text alerts. Free 8-by-10 collage print from Walgreens; expires Saturday 
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| Free Publix Stocking Spree booklet offers $50 in coupons Posted: 02 Nov 2012 04:51 AM PDT
Sign up to get a Winter edition of the Publix Stocking Spree coupon booklet with $50 in coupon savings from StockingSpree.com. Once you sign up, you will automatically receive the coupon books each season. The booklet, which will be mailed out Dec. 1-7, will contain savings on products from Chips Ahoy, Gatorade, Tide and others that can be redeemed at Publix markets. The booklets will not be available in stores, so sign up so you don't miss out on this and future offers. Click here for the deal. Coupons are valid until Dec. 28. Three ways to keep up with the latest deals: "Like" our Sentinel Deals page on Facebook; follow Doreen Christensen on Twitter@PrettyGoodIdeas and sign up for Deals text alerts. 
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| $10 off $30 purchase at Bath & Body Works Posted: 02 Nov 2012 04:40 AM PDT
Get $10 off a $30 purchase at Bath & Body Works with a coupon. Click here for the deal. The coupon expires on Nov 18. Three ways to keep up with the latest deals: "Like" our Sentinel Deals page on Facebook; follow Doreen Christensen on Twitter@PrettyGoodIdeas and sign up for Deals text alerts. 
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| Free Butterball turkey for Thanksgiving at BJ's Wholesale Club Posted: 02 Nov 2012 04:27 AM PDT
Get a free Butterball turkey through Nov. 14 at BJ's Wholesale Club with purchase four qualifying products using a coupon available at the entrance to the store. Buy four from the list below to get the free bird: Coca-Cola Product - 4 pack/2 Liters You don't have a BJ's membership? No problem! Get a free 60-day membership with a coupon valid through Dec. 31. Also, BJ's takes manufacturer coupons (one per item) so you can really save big with a little planning. If you buy a 3-pack, give them three coupons. Three ways to keep up with the latest deals: "Like" our Sentinel Deals page on Facebook; follow Doreen Christensen on Twitter@PrettyGoodIdeas and sign up for Deals text alerts. 
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| Free 60-day membership at BJ's Wholesale Club Posted: 02 Nov 2012 04:16 AM PDT
BJ's Wholesale Club offering a free 60-day trial membership with full benefits, one per household for new members. Try it out. The produce and meat are terrific and you can save on gas, too. Plus, the club offers its own coupons and takes manufacturer coupons so you can save even more money. There is no surcharge at checkout with this offer. Print the pass and take it to the service desk before you begin shopping. A 12-month club membership costs $50. Click here for the deal. There are locations in Central and South Florida. The offer ends on Dec. 31. Three ways to keep up with the latest deals: "Like" our Sentinel Deals page on Facebook; follow Doreen Christensen on Twitter@PrettyGoodIdeas and sign up for Deals text alerts. 
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| Free entry to museums on Saturday and Sunday Posted: 02 Nov 2012 04:10 AM PDT
It's the first full weekend of the month on Saturday and Sunday, which means you can visit nine South Florida museums for free with an ID and a Bank of America credit or debit card. Get in free at more than 150 U.S. venues with BOA's Museum on Us program. It offers each cardholder one free general admission on the first full weekend of each month. On the list: South Florida museums: Central Florida venues: Click here for the deal. Three ways to keep up with the latest deals: "Like" our Sentinel Deals page on Facebook; follow Doreen Christensen on Twitter@PrettyGoodIdeas and sign up for Deals text alerts. 
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| Sears to open at 8 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day for Black Friday Posted: 01 Nov 2012 02:16 PM PDT
For the first time, Sears will open at 8 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day, trying to get a jump on competitors to kick off the busiest shopping day of the year, according to a release. It will retmain open until 10 p.m. on Nov. 23. Sears will feature doorbusters at 8 p.m. on Thursday and again on Friday starting at 4 a.m. Kmart stores will be open from 6 a.m. until 4 p.m. and from 8 p.m. to 3 a.m. on Thanksgiving Day. It will reopen for Black Friday at 5 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Nov. 23. "We appreciate our SHOP YOUR WAY Members and want them – and all of our customers – to shop Sears and Kmart when they want, how they want," said Ron Boire, executive vice president, of both chains, said in a press release. "Extending our hours is the first of several announcements we'll make this holiday season to benefit our members and provide them with valuable perks and privileges." Both stores will be closed on Christmas Day, according to the press release. Sawgrass Mills is opening at 9 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day. Three ways to keep up with the latest deals: "Like" our Sentinel Deals page on Facebook; follow Doreen Christensen on Twitter@PrettyGoodIdeas and sign up for Deals text alerts. 
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| Amazon.com launches Black Friday deals Posted: 01 Nov 2012 01:35 PM PDT
Black Friday has arrived early on Amazon.com. The world's largest online retailer on Thursday opened its Black Friday Deals store, a pre-party if you will, offering steals on popular electronics like LED TVs, computers cameras, video game systems, toys, clothes and more through Nov. 19, according to a press release. The retailer is planning on offering Black Friday Deals Week starting Monday, November 19, The Seattle-based retailer's pre-Black Friday sale will offer a Deal of the Day, along with limited-time "door-buster Lightening Deals." Offers will be rolled out hourly in limited quantities. The first offers included a great deal on Melissa & Doug Deluxe Wooden Multi-Activity Table for $79.99. It normally sells for $109. Another offer is a Toshiba All-In-One Desktop, right, for $619. It normally sells for $1,199. Holiday bargain hunters can sign up for email alerts so they don't miss any good buys. Click here for the deal. Three ways to keep up with the latest deals: "Like" our Sentinel Deals page on Facebook; follow Doreen Christensen on Twitter@PrettyGoodIdeas and sign up for Deals text alerts. 
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