Bargain Wonderland

Back to School Deals!

2012-08-02T10:22:00.000-05:00

Now is a great time to stock up on crayons, notebooks and pencils. Back to school sales offer the best deals! 50 cents for Crayola crayons? 17 cents for notebooks? $1.12 for 40 pencils? Yes, please! You know your kids will use these items all year...might as well stock up! Even if you have little ones who aren't school age -- notebooks and crayons can keep them busy.

Use sites like coupons.com and coupons.target.com to find coupons for school supplies.

Tax free weekends are also going on around this time...however you will have to fight the crowds and is that really worth the small percentage you'll save? Surprisingly for me, it's not. Unless you're buying a computer or other big ticket item, it doesn't make sense to battle crowds to save tax on 50 cent crayons that will be picked over anyways.

Forever 21 Sunglasses

2012-07-07T23:36:00.000-05:00

I lose sunglasses. Like crazy. And the ones I don't lose, I break. I was going to brag and say I've had this one pair of sunglasses for 3 months now...but I broke them today. If you have my kind of luck, you probably don't want to invest $20 or more for a pair of shades! I usually opt for cheap sunglasses and buy several pairs.

A great option I've found (besides Dollar Tree) is Forever 21! They have super cute glasses for under $6. LOVE IT!

Forever 21 Women's F4608 Aviator Sunglasses: Teal: One Size

These are only $1.80! I love the color - so summer - and the aviator style looks good on just about everyone!

&lt;p&gt;&amp;amp;amp;lt;a href="http://gan.doubleclick.net/gan_click?lid=41000000036779680&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;pid=1002930039_ONE%20SIZE_BLACK&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;adurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.forever21.com%2FProduct%2FProduct.aspx%3Fbr%3DF21%26Category%3DACC%26ProductID%3D1002930039%26VariantID%3D%26utm_source%3DCSE%26utm_medium%3Dcpc%26utm_campaign%3DGoogleBase&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;usg=AFHzDLuzHD3RZ4Wr0beYsnexiAHt33V7yw&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;pubid=559014" rel="nofollow"&amp;amp;amp;gt;Forever 21 Women's F0039 Butterfly Sunglasses: Black: One Size&amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;gt;&lt;/p&gt;
Forever 21 Women's F0039 Butterfly Sunglasses: Black: One Size

$3.50 - Basic, black sunglasses. The frames are stylish and make the look a little less boring.

Forever 21 Women's F7475 Sunglasses: Black/Peach: One Size

$5.80 and super cute! So catty. :) Fierce!

Forever 21 Women's F2079 Sunglasses: Black/Brown: One Size

$5.80 - These have a cool shape. They're black/brown - go with any outfit.

These are just a few options! They have many, many more on their website and in stores. :)

E.L.F. (eyes lips face) Make-Up is Cheap & Fabulous

2012-07-07T23:03:00.001-05:00

Ladies! Have you ever tried E.L.F. make up? They have eyeshadow, mascara, eyeliner, blush, lip gloss, everything! It works great. And even better? Almost everything they manufacture is only one dollar! That's right, $1!

What can you get for $1? Liquid eyeliner, eyeliner pencils, mascara, single eyeshadow, blush, corrector, brushes, lip gloss and more. You can step it up to $3 for higher quality brushes and $5 for eyeshadow palettes.

I have the "total face brush" that I use everyday for blush and it works great. It was only a dollar! I also have their liquid eyeliner, eyeshadow blush, facial whip, eyeshadow, and several makeup palettes.

I buy my E.L.F. make-up at Dollar Tree or Target. Target has a bigger selection.

You can also visit E.L.F. online at http://www.eyeslipsface.com/

Ordering online is a good option if they are offering free shipping. The selection is bigger online but of course you have to wait for delivery. I prefer just traveling to my local Target.

I am in no way paid or compensated to endorse E.L.F. I just love them - it's true!

How to Get Free Magazine Subscriptions

2012-07-07T14:36:00.001-05:00

Ever wondered if it was possible to get free magazine subscriptions? Wondered how people do it? It's very simple.

I currently have several months worth of unread magazines piling up because I have so many and have so little time to read. My subscriptions include: Glamour, Cosmopolitan, Lucky, Shape, Teen Vogue, W, Newsweek, Better Homes & Gardens, Martha Stewart Living...and more.

Note - You can only get free subscriptions at certain times of the year...basically whatever is being offered at the time. It's best to use the below method once day. A variety of subscriptions can be found this way.

HOW TO SUBSCRIBE TO MAGAZINES FOR FREE:

1. Go to twitter.com (you do not need to have a twitter account!)
2. In the search bar, key in "free magazine subscriptions".
3. You will see a list of tweets - usually with a common theme.
4. Click on a magazine that you'd read. Fill out the short survey.
5. Wait...and enjoy.

Today I noticed Rewards Gold is offering a 2 year Shape magazine subscription. It may look shady, but it's legit. (See screen cap.) Use your own judgement, but if you notice a lot of bloggers mentioning it on twitter, then it's usually legit!

Semi Annual Sales Ending Soon! Stock Up & Smell Good!

2012-07-06T16:00:00.001-05:00

The Semi Annual sales for Bath and Body Works and Victoria's Secret are ending soon. Stock up now and save! Items are 50% - 75% off. There are even some Bath and Body Works coupons floating around out there that will bring your total down even more. I had a coupon for $10 off any $30 purchase. Score! It's like Christmas in July. (Except all the "presents" are for me...haha.)

Bath & Body Works also carries some Victoria's Secret PINK lotion and spray, just FYI. During this sale I found the VS PINK items were actually cheaper at Victoria's Secret though. (75% off compared to 50% off.)

Yes, you may be able to smell just as good if you shop somewhere else, but there is just something that I love about the pretty bottles sitting on my vanity. I am a body spray, perfume and lotion collector. (or obsessed with smelling good!)

The key to being able to shop at Victoria's Secret and Bath & Body Works is that you can only shop a couple times of year - mostly during their big Semi Annual sales.

These stores have clearance deals at other times of the year too, but they are a lot harder to find. I just stick with a ONCE A YEAR trip around late June and then I'm set for a year. Oh, who am I kidding? I have stuff from the year before last too. (And yes, it still smells fabulous!)

I won't even get into discussing Victoria's Secret bras and panties right now because they are super cute and super overpriced - even during sales. If you can afford it, have at it... but not me!

I Love Dollar Tree

2012-07-06T12:36:00.000-05:00

Dollar Tree is a great creation. Everything is a dollar! No price checking. No $1.19 items. No. It's all a dollar! (Except the baking soda and a few canned goods and candy bars...those are less.)

Yesterday I came across a 4-pack of iced coffee mix. Directions said "mix with water". Hmm...4 iced cups of coffee for a dollar? I wasn't so sure. I love Dollar Tree, but I doubt their quality at times. I thought, "Hey, it's just a dollar! What do I have to lose? And maybe I'll hit the iced coffee jackpot..." So I made my purchase and this morning I tried it. IT WAS DELICIOUS. No, not kidding. I mixed mine with ice and water and it tasted amazing. (The picture to the right is actual coffee I bought.) Buy this stuff. Seriously. Take chances. :)

That's right - only 25 cents for an amazing cup of iced coffee. So what else does Dollar Tree offer, you may ask?

TONS!

Dish soap is a great buy. You can get Palmolive or Ajax for a dollar (just skip over that nasty Sun stuff). Lately they have had different size bottles so be sure to examine the sizes to get the best deal.

Toothpaste - name brand! Be sure to examine the sizes once again.

Always check the deodorant and shampoo/conditioner isle. I have found name brand products there before. I stocked up on Dove deodorant and Loreal conditioner a few months ago.

They have huge bags of french fries in the freezer section! They taste great (after all, it's just frozen potatoes! Don't buy name brand).

Coloring books for the kids. Can't seem to find any coloring books anywhere else for less!

And....sunglasses. Yes, for real. If you're anything like me and break or lose sunglasses like crazy, Dollar Tree definitely has some fashionable options. Why invest $14.99 or more in a pair of sunglasses? Silliness. They have men's, women's and children's sunglasses. They aren't the most durable, but I think they're a great buy.

GENERAL TIPS FOR SHOPPING AT DOLLAR TREE

- Always compare sizes.
- Know the general prices of the items you usually buy. Some items aren't cheaper....*cough cough* canned foods.
- Look around! There ARE name brands mixed in and Dollar Tree gets new products in all the time...but the name brand items go fast. Stock up if it's a good deal (AKA if you ever see Dove deodorant...stock up!)
- Check expiration dates.
- Inspect items before you buy!

I am in no way paid or compensated to endorse Dollar Tree. I just love them - it's true!

Target Fourth of July Clearance!

2012-07-05T15:23:00.000-05:00

Target now has all of their Fourth of July merchandise marked down to 50%. In a few days, it will go down even more if there is anything left! You can find the red, white and blue goodies on the end caps. (Those are always the best place to look for clearance goods!)

MANY items can be used for other occasions. Some items are solid colors. Get creative!

There are string lights, lanterns, decorative stars, plates, napkins and more (or less!) depending on your store.

Favorite Women's Clothing Store: Ross Stores

2012-07-05T14:48:00.001-05:00

My favorite store? For clothes, it's Ross! No tie.

Ross Stores is the best place to find women's clothes. They have all sizes. They have a great selection of dresses as well as tops.

Most of my dresses from Ross Stores cost $14.99 or under. No, not kidding! They carry more expensive things too (but let's face it, I'm cheap!).

I usually check out the clearance racks first, then browse through Juniors and Womens. They have formal wear, casual wear and work attire. Color selection is good too. I can usually find an item I like in a few different colors.

In my area, there are also Marshalls and T.J.Maxx stores. They're cool too, but not the best, in my opinion. Their prices are higher! Still worth a try. They are similar in nature.

I am in no way paid or compensated to endorse Ross Stores. I just love them - it's true!

Best Deals Located in the Back of Stores

2012-07-05T14:25:00.000-05:00

How do I find such great deals on clothes? I go to the back!

Stores lure you in with elaborate window displays. The priciest things are up front. Wear your blinders! Don't even pay attention to the pink dress on display. Don't "look around" until you're safely in the sale section.

This tip will save you so much money and it takes little effort. Go to the mall. Search out the clearance signs in the back of the store (sometimes tucked away in a lovely corner). Don't be afraid! Search through the racks of clothes for your precious gem. A new dress awaits - marked down 30% or more! If your favorite store doesn't have clearance one week, they might next week! You have an excuse to go shopping now.

Rue21, Wet Seal and The Body Shop are three examples of mall stores in my area that you can find deals in. Explore your local mall and see what you can find.

Welcome

2012-07-05T11:45:00.003-05:00

Thank you for visiting my blog!

Bargain Wonderland is a collection of ideas on ways to save you money. Bargain shopping is my passion and also a way of life. I rarely pay the retail price of anything! I am also not a coupon addict. I have a busy life yet I can still easily save money. I see this as an opportunity to share my tips with you!

Along with money saving tips, I will include great finds and my own great buys!

(Sharing on pinterest is welcome.)