All Things Deal Oriented
Friday, November 20, 2009
Posted by ellisgl on November 20, 2009
So you might have read my aricle on frameworks and/or my series of tutorials on Kohana PHP 2.3.x and you are wanting more. Today, I drop the old 2.3.x and bring the new and shiny! So I bring you information to get you started with Kohana PHP 3.0! WAIT! There is more to read… read on »
Posted by chelnel15 on
Do you remember this movie? It’s one of my favorites.
I want to challenge you to do something for someone else this Holiday Season, expecting nothing in return. Prepare a dinner for a family, give a gift to a child that won’t be getting presents this year, serve dinner to the homeless…give back any way you can, it doesn’t have to be big! One of the greatest things about life for me is helping others. Experiencing and seeing the joy on their faces when they are told their next meal is taken care of is gratifying.
I am not only challenging you but I have taken this challenge on myself and hope to make an impact on a young women’s life who is pregnant with her third child. She can fit all her belongings into the run down car that she drives to and from work. She is stuggling to survive in this world alone with three children. She has been chosen by my small group and I to sponsor this year for Christmas. We asked her this week if we could help give them a Christmas and she has already thanked us about 5 times…can you imagine her relief? The basics for her and her children will be taken care of this Christmas all because of the willingness to Pay it Forward.
Posted by JLo47 on November 18, 2009
Boy, am I glad we didn’t buy a house. We’d been looking since August and were scrambling to beat the first-time homebuyer’s tax credit deadline of Nov. 31st. For the record, it takes 30 days to close on a house in the best of circumstances, but the average is closer to 45-60 days. Just before Halloween we found out that my wife would be losing her job at the end of the year.
A couple of days before we found out this distressful bit of info, our realtor brought to my attention that we’d been shown 137 houses in three months. We’d made five offers, all of which had fallen through in negotiations. Her tone conveyed that we were running out of options if we wanted to beat the deadline.
Negotiations. If there was anything during these hard times I’d heard over most of 2009 with regard to home buying, it was: “It’s a buyer’s market”. “If a seller can’t pay your closing costs then they’re being unreasonable”. “NO ONE pays list price on a house nowadays”. None of these suggestions came directly from our realtor, but she also didn’t disagree with them. And so we approached our offers with these jewels of advice in mind.
It just never worked out the way we heard that it would. On two of the houses, the sellers were insulted by our offers of a few thousand below list and closing costs – so incredibly insulted that they considered not even counter-offering. Hey, we were just entering the negotiations expecting the seller to counteroffer, not trying to lowball them. But on all of the five houses, there was just no compromise. We’d been told that paying list price was just ridiculous, yet any time we entered negotiations the sellers seemed unwilling to come much off their list price even if their home had been on the market for 30, 60, 90 or 180 days!
I’m so glad we didn’t jump into a mortgage just to beat some deadline. Was our negative first-time homebuyer experience in this economy just a result of an unfortunate series of unreasonable sellers? Or was word of mouth wrong about it being a “buyer’s market”?
Posted by fheenix33 on November 17, 2009
I’ve never considered myself high maintenance. I’m not one to blow hundreds of dollars on shoes and handbags. In fact, I hate shoes. I don’t make regular appointments at the hair salon for pricey colors or cuts. I don’t get my nails professionally manicured and my makeup collection isn’t top of the line. However, I am a girly girl. I make sure my nails are polished everyday before work (yes, really) and I have a fresh coat of gloss on my lips. I have a pink calculator. I searched like a mad woman trying to find a matching pink trash bin for my office (go ahead, laugh). You get the picture.
For the past couple of months we’ve been making renovations on a house that we’ll soon be moving into. The 2 rooms upstairs has been our main focus for now. In the beginning I maintained my girly girl sheek, but as time went on it slowly became apparent that it wasn’t working out. If I was going to get down and dirty I needed to let go of a few daily routines. Reality is we need to get these two rooms done before we move. Trimming some time away from tackling renovations to do my nails, hair and whatever else was not an option. I didn’t dare. I would have gotten “the look.”
WAIT! There is more to read… read on »
Posted by admin on November 11, 2009
The movie Dodgeball was a hilarious portrayal of a game most of us played as kids. I did not know how serious it was for adults until the DealTaker/Media General team took to the court in Richmond- Go team!!
And the trailer for the movie for your viewing pleasure…
“If you can dodge a wrench – you can dodge a ball!!”
Posted by vickijasper on
Today is Veteran’s Day. A day when we pay homage to all of those brave men and women who have answered our country’s call to arms. Now as a youngster, I can vaguely remember the war in Vietnam but it was sort of on the edge of my consciousness and I remember my Grandfather telling me stories about World War II but none of it seemed real to me. It was just something I heard about, after all nothing was going to happen to America and no one I knew would be going to war (ah to be young and naive).
Well September 11th changed all that. Never in my life time did I imagine that I would need to be worried about this great country and NEVER did I think I would see my friends leave behind their loved ones and their life’s to go to war. Now whether or not you agree with the politics behind all of this is a mute point. The fact is thousands of Americans (some of them my very close friends) are answering this country’s call. They believe so strongly in what this country stands for that they are willing to die for it.
So is one day enough to say thank you to these folks for their sacrifice? NO! We need to be thinking of them and keeping them and their families (because they too have made a huge sacrifice) in our minds and our prayers everyday (I’m probably more than a little biased here but you get the point). Get involved, volunteer, let our armed forces know that you appreciate them. There are hundreds organizations – Adopt-a-Platoon, US Troop Support, USO etc – that could use your help to support our troops.
While it’s important to nationally recognize past and present soliders, I want you to take it a step further, go upto military personnel wherever you might see them and shake their hand (I always do this when I see them in the airport. They look at me a little funny when I first approach them but they appreciate the fact that I take the time.) Tell them thank you in person. It means a great deal to them that you recognize and appreciate them. After all they are fighting for our freedom and democracy.
Posted by DBiles on November 10, 2009
We were just talking about Black Friday yesterday and it got us thinking about how many questions there are.
Some people who will read this post are Black Friday veterans who already know a thing or two about the day. We’d love to hear from you about your best tips, lessons you’ve learned and what confused you the most when you were staring out.
Others may be brand new to Black Friday. Some many not even know what Black Friday is. To those, let us know what most confuses you or what you’d like to know more about.
Leave your questions (and answers) in the comments!
Posted by DBiles on November 9, 2009
You may have noticed over on the DealTaker home page that our logo has gone black. That’s because it’s November and for bargain-hunters everywhere November means just one thing:
Black Friday.
DealTaker has long been a go to destination for Black Friday information and I think that’s because of the enthusiasm everyone here has for this time of year. There’s a real hubub when a new ad comes in. We all get excited and everyone from the content team, to the merchants, marketing and the developers get chatty when a new ad comes in.
We’ve done some things this year to help make the Black Friday information easier to find. First of all, check out our new and improved 2009 Black Friday Ads page. There’s always a lot of information coming from lots of different directions so we’ve done our best on that page to keep it organized and easy to find. On the left hand side is a list of all the stores that we had ads for last year. As the ads come in a check mark will show up next to it. Click on the store name and you’ll find all of the ad info (including product lists and ad scans when available).
On the main page you’ll also notice that we’re aggregating all of the Black Friday coupons that come in from merchants as well.
This week is always a busy week as tons of new ads come in, so check back regularly for all the most up to date info. And know that when a new ad comes in your trusty DealTaker staff is just as excited as you are!
Posted by BigAlRap on November 6, 2009
One of my responsibilities here at DealTaker is adding merchants to the site. For years we stayed around 1500 total active merchants on the site. At the beginning on 2009 I took on an initiative to get to 2000 merchants by the end of the year. I am happy to report that this week we have surpassed that 2000 number!
I hope the result of adding more stores is that people who come to DealTaker will better be able to find what they are looking for with our increased variety of merchants. Moving in to the holiday season, I hope everyone will be able to find exactly what they want, at the price they want, starting right here at DealTaker.com!
Posted by DBiles on November 2, 2009
Of all the things that DealTaker users have expressed interest to us about over the years, printable grocery coupons would probably be the top of the list. It’s a natural connection to make from saving money online to saving money in the grocery store.
Well, we heard you, DealTakers! We are proud to announce that DealTaker.com now has a printable Grocery Coupons page! From here you’ll be able to search among a huge collection of grocery coupons. Just find and check the ones you want, then print them up from the convenience of home!
Best of all it’s free.
Now you can save even more money with DealTaker than you did before!
Posted by fheenix33 on October 29, 2009
I am well aware that the holidays are right around the corner. It’s almost November. Normally, this time of year I’m floating in that glorified state of knowing that I’ve conquered the majority of things that cause the usual holiday stress. I can breathe easy with the sweet reassurance that what’s left over (baking, holiday cards, gift wrapping, etc) will be smooth sailing. There will be plenty of time to tie up the loose ends. No worries.
That came to a screeching halt about a month and half ago. Mom’s health took a turn for the worst and she now relies on us financially as well as for some daily assisted living. We made the decision to move into Lori’s house next door and Mom will be living with us. We had planned on moving there down the road after we made some renovations, but, under the cirsumstances, we have to do it sooner rather than later. It was our only choice.
My glorified state has now turned to organized chaos. Although we don’t anticipate being fully moved in until mid January, there is an endless amount of work that needs to be done. Not only do we have to contend with the hassle of moving, but we need to renovate the two rooms upstairs in the other house before the move, Okay, I can deal with that. I’m always up for a good challenge.
I had to seriously rethink the holidays this year. Time is of the essence. Every hour of every day needs to be productive. I’ve drafted up timelines. If everything goes as planned (knock on wood) we should be okay. This meant deducting a good chunk of time I usually devote to the holidays.
Do I really need to send out 40 (give or take a few) holiday cards this year each with a few handwritten paragraphs? Most of these people I haven’t heard from in years. This task takes me an entire day. In a day I can apply a coat of joint compound to the walls of both rooms and strip the hardwood floor. Is it necessary to spend three days baking for everyone we know and have come in contact with? No. The possibilities are endless as to what I can get done in those 3 days.
WAIT! There is more to read… read on »
Posted by BananaFrog on October 28, 2009
Why is it that many cannot live in the here and now? What is built or trained into our society that makes us look towards tomorrow instead at looking at what is right in front of our face? The best advice I was given while I was pregnant with my first child is to enjoy everyday with them. To take in every bit of their tiny baby smell, beautiful tiny smiles, each little coo, and every ‘baby’ step thereafter. After watching my two oldest grow so quickly, I am very glad that I have enjoyed them to the best of my ability each day.
I have come to realize that tomorrow is just going to be tomorrow, not the day I receive a large inheritance from a distant relative (although that would be nice, he he he). I have a choice in what everyday will bring me. I have a choice to be in a good mood or a bad mood when I wake up. I have a choice to get up 15 minutes earlier so that I am not yelling at my kids to get ready or eat faster. I also have a choice to make changes so that my life continuously improves. Everyday there is a choice to make it a successful day!
This knowledge has helped me to enjoy each day for what it is. I have learned to see the good in the days that I wish never happened. I am not saying I don’t lose it or break down, but for the most part, I look for something to make my day easier. I hope that I can teach my children to look for the good in life and to be able to keep their chin up even when life seems to be crumbling around them.
Carpe diem
Posted by Kstraw on October 21, 2009
I have the privilege of writing a column for our parent company’s publications that gets into several of our newspapers each week. OK, so I have written two columns so far and this week’s just got out online at GoDanRiver.com. It is in tribute to the Avon Walk that I did, but also goes more broadly to this month – October (which I will now always consider to be “Pinktober” for the numerous reasons mentioned in previous posts) – THE awareness month for Breast Cancer. Please read and consider ways you, too, can participate.
Posted by Kstraw on October 19, 2009
It was five weeks ago yesterday that our Affiliate Marketers Give Back Team completed the 40 mile Avon Walk for Breast Cancer in Los Angeles. Our team of Missy Ward, Chris Pearson, Brook Schaaf, Lynette LaPlante, Melissa Salas, Brian Clark and myself raised over $50,000 in the fight against breast cancer. The video is about 11 minutes long (as short as I could get 16 hours of walking) but shows our fortitude to not only give, but participate.
Posted by chelnel15 on October 16, 2009
If you are from O-H-I-O or anywhere around there then you know what I am referring to. For all you others who don’t, let me explain. The term Buckeyes or Bucks is used to refer to Ohio State University sports teams and refers to all residents of the state of Ohio. Buckeyes are shiny dark brown nuts with lighter tan patches. They are poisonous nuts that grow on trees along rivers and streams and in floodplains.
Growing up my Mom taught my Sister and I how to make the edible kind of Buckeyes which are super yummy peanut butter balls dipped in milk chocolate. I remember gathering around in the kitchen before Christmas making these treats with them for hours. They are quite a chore to make but if you ask my family are worth the hard work once you get to pop one in your mouth. I wish I could say the more you make the less of them you mess up but that was never the case with us. We never could make them as perfect as what we would find in the store. We had lots of fun and made great memories though! Fortunately for you, I have found some Peanut Butter Buckeyes for you to enjoy without the time spent making them and a 25% off coupon to purchase them with.
Posted by fheenix33 on October 13, 2009
By definition the word ugly means very unattractive, unpleasant to look at, offensive to the sense of beauty and displeasing in appearance. As a society we tend to keep our distance from the ugly and gravitate towards things that tend to be appealing to the eye. People take great lengths to surround themselves with beautiful things regardless of the cost or consequences. After all, who wants to be the brunt of any comment that would include the word ugly?
If you were to ask my Mom, who is a frequent traveler, what her biggest travel tip is she would tell you one thing, “Buy the ugliest and most hideous strand of wide ribbon you can find and tie it to your luggage.” My Mom has traveled to places like Mexico, the Caribbean, Puerto Rico and Jamaica and this is the only bit of helpful information she has to give? I thought she was out of her mind.
WAIT! There is more to read… read on »
Posted by lacywebb on October 12, 2009
Here are some new stores that you can find on DealTaker!
Portero (coupons): The leading curated marketplace for buying and selling pre-owned authenticated luxury goods. They provide unprecedented access to more than 450 of the world’s top luxury brands at exceptional values.
Abazias Diamonds (coupons): They have been selling diamonds, engagement rings and jewelry online since 2001 and have the largest selection of loose diamonds available anywhere online, and an ever-growing selection of fine jewelry for every taste and budget.
Untangle (coupons): Enable small business owners and parents to take back control of the Internet. Their Untangle software installs on a single PC in the office or home, and intercepts all Internet traffic in and out of the network giving people the ability to monitor who is doing what online, and control whether to allow it or not.
Branders.com (coupons): The World’s Largest Online Seller of Promotional Items: Promotional Items, Promotional Products & Corporate Gifts for Your Trade Show Promotions from Branders.com
Apex Battery (coupons): Sells practically every battery for every need. They offer over 200,000 replacement batteries and accessories at up to 70% off retail prices.
Cooking Enthusiast (coupons): Specializes in essential tools for the cooking enthusiast. Products are chosen for their quality, value and special features – not fancy packaging or popular brand names and all are fully tested by their own professional chef to ensure the customers complete satisfaction.
Costume Kingdom (coupons): At Costume Kingdom, you’ll find a wide range of Halloween costumes that will suit your taste. They have one of the best and largest inventories of adult, sexy, couples, children’s, infant and pet costume ideas that will help you get started.
Outletbuy.com (coupons): One of the largest sites on the Internet focused on discount footwear, bags and apparel from over 350 top brands. They also offer free shipping, free returns and a 100% pricing guarantee.
Product Express (coupons): A leading retailer focused on all categories of footwear and related apparel for the shopper that needs it now. ProductExpress offers free overnight shipping on all purchases from over 200 top brands.
My Punchbowl (coupons): Helps you plan a party that your guests will always remember by bringing your party to life with ideas, invitations, favors, gift registries, photo/video sharing, and more.
1st Wishes (coupons): Your source for first birthday party supplies offers a wide selection of themes to make your child’s 1st birthday a memorable occasion.
Posted by Kstraw on October 9, 2009
DealTaker had its first “leaked” Black Friday ad posted this week (Half Price Books). Here is the press release announcing the start of the 2009 Holiday Shopping Season -
FIRST BLACK FRIDAY AD OF THE YEAR NOW ON DEALTAKER.COM
Premier Coupon & Deal Site Features Most-Anticipated Sales of the Year Well Ahead of Schedule
PLANO, Texas—October 7, 2009—DealTaker.com today announced the official start of the holiday bargain shopping season with the first Black Friday ad now at www.DealTaker.com/blackfriday.html.
“It’s a great day for bargain hunters everywhere,” said Kevin Strawbridge, President of DealTaker.com. “With pent up demand at an all-time high and retailers eager for consumer dollars, sales will abound and organization will be the key to sorting through myriad opportunities. Perusing the ads well ahead of Thanksgiving makes it easier for deal takers to optimize their time and money, and for retailers to ensure traffic to their stores,” Strawbridge said.
There are 50 days before November 27 which could be the biggest shopping day of the year. To prepare, consumers can quickly and easily find the most up-to-date Black Friday deals, coupons and sales at DealTaker.com. The popular site also features a countdown calendar, a handy downloadable Black Friday Organizer ® exclusively available at DealTaker and a searchable list of free shipping codes for consumers who also take advantage of the online deals every day and on Cyber Monday.
Besides sales from nearly 2,000 merchant partners, more than 225,000 DealTaker.com members actively post deals, ads, coupons and offers on DealTaker.com every day, saving consumers millions of dollars over the past 5 years. Historically, members have posted Black Friday ads directly to the Black Friday forums. But some retailers have balked at members trying to help each other. Already, one major retailer has made a pre-emptive strike with a cease-and-desist letter, insisting DealTaker.com police the forums and remove ads that members post.
About DealTaker.com
DealTaker.com is the premier destination for consumers looking to spend less and get more. A free coupon site for members to share and take deals, DealTaker.com makes it easy to save on merchandise and services including food, travel, electronics, home furnishings, jewelry and pet supplies, among others. Founded in Plano, Texas in 2004, DealTaker.com works with more than 1,900 stores, nearly 19,000 followers on Twitter and more than 225,000 deal-sharing members to provide over 8,000 active coupons and deals every day.
# # #
Contact: Jeanine Connolly
214 – 636 – 3900
Posted by Kstraw on October 6, 2009
A friend of mine shared this on twitter. I love things like this that inspire awe and wonderment. What can we each do to encourage creativity? (Click the picture to see the video)
Posted by lacywebb on October 5, 2009
There are lots of new stores that have been added to DealTaker over the past week, come and check out what’s new with us.
eXpansys (coupons): A leading retailer of smartphones and handheld devices with wireless connectivity and has been operating in the USA since 2001. They carry over 20,000 products, covering Laptops, Unlocked Cell Phones, Digital Cameras, GPS, Accessories, and much more.
Linksys (coupons): LINKSYS by Cisco is the global leader in Wireless and Ethernet networking for consumer and SOHO users. They are dedicated to making networking easy and affordable.
Perricone MD (coupons): Offers a line of revolutionary skincare products and dietary supplements created by Nicholas Perricone, M.D., a board certified clinical and research dermatologist. Dr. Perricone is regarded as the Father of the Inflammation Theory of Aging.
My Shape (coupons): A fashion-forward apparel company established to solve one common problem shared by women of all ages and sizes: finding clothes that both fit well and flatter our body shapes. They offer latest styles from over 250 designer brands and a free Personal Shop filled with clothes that match our members’ measurements, styles, and fit preferences.
Chrome (coupons): They produce men’s Bags Apparel and Shoes that last. Chrome started in Boulder, Colorado 14 years ago when a couple of guys needed bags and couldn’t find anything that met their standards. So they got the toughest materials they could find, headed into their garage and started sewing.
Le Gourmet Chef (coupons): Provides the consumer with a fun and entertaining shopping experience by presenting a wonderful assortment of gourmet foods, cookware, bake ware and home entertaining products.
Prep Me (coupons): Is a leading provider of online test preparation services for middle school and high school students. They offer a complete portfolio of online services for the SAT, ACT, PSAT, PSAE and more.
Hatley (coupons): Hatley has something for everyone in the family. Pajamas, boxers, puddle stompin fun raingear and now Snow Gear to boot! Hatley pairs great fabric design inspired by nature or wildlife with a clever spin on everyday sayings and popular culture to bring out the “pun” in everyone.
microGreen Oil Filter (coupons): The microGreenTM oil filter is the most advanced technological leap in engine filtration in 30 years. It replaces a conventional oil filter assembly without requiring any modifications to the engine or filter housing.
Bidcactus (coupons): An exciting auction website where you can get huge discounts. Bidcactus sells brand new top name electronics and gift cards at incredibly low prices that start at $.01 with no reserve. Penny Auctions are auctions in which you have to purchase bids before you can bid on an item.
maurices (coupons): Started in 1931 as a small women’s fashion shop in Duluth, Minnesota, has grown to over 700 stores in 43 states across the country. maurices is the leading small town specialty store and authority for the savvy, fashion conscious customer with a twenty-something attitude.
Marine Depot (coupons): Is an industry leader in saltwater and freshwater aquarium supply sales and carries 7,500 popular and hard-to-find items.
Pet Store (coupons): Is a full-service online pet shop that carries 25,000 products for dogs, cats, fish, reptiles, birds, small animals and ponds/water gardens.
© 2009, Inside DealTaker
 |
|||
© 2009 DealTaker Inc., a Media General company. All Rights Reserved. |
|||
