Deals and Steals For Realz

Hey there my lovely deal hoppers. Have you found anything good since my last posting in - um - January. Ugh... how embarrassing. I've let you down, I've failed, I've... I've (fade into unintelligible sobbing).

Well, if you occasionally follow my Twitter feed, you'll see I haven't completely faded. That I utilize the Twittersphere. If you don't follow my Twitter feed... FOR SHAME! That being said, I have found some deals as of late - like a $100 diamond (if you squint you'll see it) necklace from Macy's for $10, Dansk dishware for $5 and yard sale deals galore.

That reminds me, as we near the end of a season (that's spring for cave dwellers), this is the time to watch for sales. Be it in-store awesome sales (like Macy's recent Friends&Family sale that was basically offered to anyone with a pulse), moving sales, yard sales, garage sales and kitten sales.

Kitten sales? Um yeah... it's spring. Love is in the air.

Moving/yard/garage (even estate) sales: it's moving season. Contracts are signed, deals are closing. People are packing up and moving on. Cash in for some great awesomeness (specific nouns are escaping me).

Retail sales: stores are clearing out for the next season's inventory. Drop in. Plus, it doesn't hurt that the economy is still in the stinker. They need your money to pull through a slow second quarter.

Don't forget that special events/attractions are offering you deals to get you through their doors (ex. @CincyParks has been giving away Butterfly Show tickets). Watch Travel Zoo and the like for special promos. Follow your favorite brands, attractions, events, stores, even cities etc. on Twitter. Sign up for their e-mails too, which often include incentives and sale announcements. Score big or go home.

You don't have to be an avid shopper to spot good deals. Just be observant when you're out and about. Know generally how much something costs so you can spot a steal when you see it. Paying attention never killed anyone (at least not me)...

Consignment Shops. Necessary Evil? (And cheese with my wine please!)

Earlier this year, I purchased an account with Snooty Fox so that I could get some cash for my unwanted clothes. It was $20... I feel like it's a little ridiculous, but I still did it.
Yesterday I dropped off clothes at Snooty Fox - it took about 20 minutes for them to get through them all. Now I have to wait two months to see if the clothes actually sell which will equal how much I make off of them. Ick - then I take what they reject to Plato's Closet and get $20.10 on the spot for a couple skirts, few shirts and a pair of shoes. Immediate payment is always appreciated, but I waited about the same amount of time - however, the two months isn't tacked on to the end.

You can probably tell by my tone how I feel about the matter. I live in an apartment so it's not like I can yard sale it with my stuff, but I do - in some instances - feel that it's a bit of a rip. Is there anyone out there who's had better luck on Craigslist or eBay in getting rid of clothes? I just feel like there should be a better way.

Ok I'm finished with whining :) I at least have more closet space now!!