It’s amazing to me how we have taken holidays meant to honor great men and women and turned them into excuses for consumerism and commercialism. Instead of going out, hitting the sales and trying to get a great deal, I suggest that you save your money and take some time to think about the sacrifices made by the men and women who have gone before. Or at least take some time to be grateful before you head out to save a few bucks.

I plan to have discussions with my son about courage and sacrifice and duty and loyalty. And we will not be doing it while paying homage to the almighty dollar.

What will you be doing this Memorial Day?

image source: mdoege@compuserve.com via Wikimedia Commons

“One man’s trash is another man’s treasure.”

And maybe it’s not even trash. From bikes to coats to tools, it is possible to save big time when you use freecycle to do some of your shopping. Freecycle is a network of people who give away things they don’t need. If you are looking for something, there is a chance that you might find it in your local freecycle network. And if you want to get rid of something that is in relatively good shape, you can choose to give it away.

Freecycling is a good way to save a little money – and even save the earth. It’s a way to allow for the reuse of serviceable items that might otherwise be thrown away. The Web site is organized by locale, so you can arrange to meet with people looking to get rid of what they have. I like the idea of being able to inspect the “merchandise” before I actually bring it home. And it is much easier to get rid of that exercise bike if someone locally can come pick it up.

Before you run out to the store to purchase something, it might be worth your while to see if you can pick it up through your local freecycle network. You can’t beat the price.

Today is it folks. It’s crunch time. Basically, if all your Christmas shopping is not done, well, you know. Things just don’t look real good. If you can find any deals, anywhere, I say go for it. There are only a few hours left. Kristen made this post a few weeks back about some Liz Claiborne sweaters that looked pretty good. Doubtful if you can get your hands on these in time for tomorrow, but it’s worth looking into if you can find a Liz store near you.

It’s pretty much a given that all online shopping is is nixed for delivery by tomorrow, but there are still deals to be found for those after-Christmas sales. Don’t worry too much. I’m sure there’s something to be found. I’m planning on going shopping again Wednesday for those after-Christmas huge sales. That’s also when I plan to stock up on business dress clothes and office supplies for the upcoming year.

Never, ever, ever pass up a good deal. Good luck!

Let’s face it: There are some HIDEOUS maternity clothes out there. But you, your boss, your coworkers, and your customers all have certain expectations for what’s appropriate dress in the office. Fortunately, it’s possible to look professional while you’re preggers.For fantastic fashions and accessories, pay a visit to these totally hip maternity retailers:

• A Pea in the Pod
• Destination Maternity
• imaternity
• Maternity Mall
• Mimi Maternity
• Motherhood
• Stylish Maternity

Perusing the selection, I loved these pieces. (Click the image for product info.) Don’t forget to look after the jump for more of my favorite picks!

Read more

Oh to hear the sweet sounds of “is it Friday yet?” brings music and joy to my ears. Only, this week it’s for totally different reasons than being burned-out and waiting anxiously for the week to come to and end so that I can enjoy the weekend. No, this week it’s for totally different reasons. I’m so excited and can’t wait until Friday because it’s - - - Black Friday!!. The one and only official day where it’s ok to spend (maybe even overspend), find incredible deals, shop until you literally drop and go home with awesome savings and a bag full of loot. Yes, Friday is almost here and it’s almost time to have big fun folks!

Black Friday has long been heralded as one of the few if not the only day of the year where retailers turn a massive profit that puts them in “the black” for the rest of the calendar year and maybe even their fiscal year. Luring the consumer dollar is the goal of many retailers as they showcase their wares throughout their stores convincing consumers that they “need” this or “have to have” that. There will be many enticing sales to lure you into the spending web, so be prepared to perhaps lustily peruse that 52-inch plasma television set or the Wii gaming system or even a big brand new car!! There are going to be enormous deals available on the infamous Black Friday. What are some things you can do to stay in control and have Starbuck’s money when you’re done? I’ll share some great tips with you that I’ve been able to use for the past few years and that work great for me: Read more