All Things Deal Oriented
Thursday, March 18, 2010
Posted by DBiles on February 16, 2009
We have arrived at an in-between time in the online shopping world. Valentine’s Day is today, so the deals have basically been had already. The next major holiday is Mother’s Day (or tax day, depending on your particular bracket). Nothing comes immediately to mind when trying to imagine what strategy retailers might employ to entice you, the shoppers, into their stores.
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Posted by DBiles on February 9, 2009
DYLAN BILES TIMES-DISPATCH COLUMNIST
Published: February 7, 2009
It is one of the most common tales I’ve heard around the office the past couple of weeks. People on our site (or even just fellow employees at DealTaker) have been puzzling over how to adequately honor their sweetheart for Valentine’s Day considering that they can’t spend as much as they would like to or as much as they have in the past.
As Americans tighten their purse strings, one of the easiest places to cut back is on frivolous spending. Anyone who has forgotten to buy their loved one a gift will tell you that Valentine’s Day spending cannot be considered frivolous.
But for the budget-conscious readers out there who have to be feeling a bit like Cupid and the Valentine’s Grinch are in a cage match right about now, there are ways to dazzle your darling and still be able to afford to feed yourself between now and then.
When it comes to jewelry (for him or for her), you would be surprised how much you can get for your money right now. Chances are if you walk into a department store you won’t see it, but online stores are cutting some crazy deals on gold, silver and diamonds right now. With everything from 30 percent to 50 percent off clearance prices to one-time deals, jewelry stores are making it easy for you to look like you dropped some cash but stay under $100.
This week I have showed friends and family a list of Valentine’s Day deals that were put together on our Web site and, by a wide margin, people were most impressed with just how much money could be saved on jewelry right now. The point is, don’t be afraid to look in this direction simply because it is normally a big ticket item.
Now, when it comes to the flowers, the advice is a little bit counterintuitive. We are very much an “early bird catches the worm” society, so waiting until the last minute is tough advice to follow. In the case of flowers, the companies are expecting that you’ll be waiting so they will often save some of their best deals for these days. They know you’ll be spending money, so they are doing everything they can to make sure that you spend it with them.
So when it comes to your flower delivery this week, there are three basic rules of thumb. Do not make a purchase unless you can achieve two out of these three:
Number 1: Don’t pay full price. Flower shops have traditionally raised their prices during this week and, while you’ll very likely pay more for roses, there are plenty of flowers that you can find a great deal on.
Number 2: Don’t pay full price for delivery. You’ll very likely have to pay something for delivery, but you can find 50 percent off shipping at major chains and you can negotiate with mom and pop stores very easily.
Number 3: Be unique. Everyone buys roses. Find other types of flowers. Not only will the prices be better but the recipient will feel as though you put some thought into it, too.
If flowers and jewelry don’t really seem right, remember that you can put together lots of small items in a theme (trinkets that are reminders of happy moments you’ve had together).
Even writing a letter explaining why you are glad to be celebrating this Valentine’s Day with someone can go over incredibly well.
If you are spending money, remember that you don’t have to spend as much as you might have thought. If you aren’t spending money then remember there is no substitute for a little bit of thought.
Posted by DBiles on February 2, 2009
DYLAN BILES TIMES-DISPATCH COLUMNIST
Published: January 31, 2009
Since the New Year began a few weeks ago there has been a welcome addition to my pay stub. It’s always been there, but it’s been a few months since it had anything more than a zero next to it. I’m talking about my vacation day balance.
I took my last vacation in May — a vacation which I used to move across town, doing myself no favors in the relaxation department — and having weathered the busy holiday shopping season I find my thoughts turning to my next vacation with increasing regularity.
So, with a fresh ledger of vacation days at my disposal, I’ve begun exploring my options for a relaxing getaway sometime in the next few months. The world is my proverbial oyster and I’ve allowed my mind to float away on dreams of European getaways or Caribbean cruises.
Every time I drift off into one of those flights of fancy, however, I glance at my paycheck, then shift my gaze to my pile of monthly bills and my dreams start to dissipate ever so slightly as reality sets in. These are tough economic times and dropping a paycheck on an exotic local isn’t exactly practical.
There are some great vacation ideas and travel tips that I’ve found to help save some cash while still enjoying my time off. Here are a few of the factors and options I’m considering.
Once you’ve found a price that you find agreeable, call the hotel or airline directly, tell them the price that you are being offered and ask them if they can beat it. Sometimes they will and sometimes they won’t but by doing some research online and spending some time you’ll be able to undercut the market effectively.I’ve also found that package deals, while they can be great, are generally not quite as cheap as you’ll find if you spend the time to try to push the airlines and hotels lower and book separately.
There are some great packages at some of the nicer hotels for in-town getaways. One major hotel has a four-day package that includes room, spa, one round of golf per day and one meal per day for around $150 per night. I am strongly considering going this route since paying a little more for a room is more than made up for by spending no money on travel.
When planning your next vacation keep these tips in mind. Maybe a gloomy economic climate won’t make you have to give up completely on your fantasy trip.
Posted by DBiles on January 19, 2009
DYLAN BILES TIMES-DISPATCH GUEST COLUMNIST
Published: January 17, 2009
It sometimes seems that things are constantly changing. With each passing year comes another new piece of groundbreaking technology to master while the old one becomes obsolete.
Against this ever-changing landscape, there are few things that are more constant than the family pet.
According to projections by the American Pet Products Association, a nonprofit trade organization for the pet industry, Americans spent an estimated $43.4 billion on their pets in 2008. Owners of dogs spend an average of $1,425 per year, with cat owners spending $990 annually.
The economy isn’t making owning a pet any cheaper, either. Reports have been surfacing over the past few months that economic instability is forcing owners to get rid of their beloved pets.
Basically, owning a pet is an expensive proposition — and it isn’t getting any cheaper.
For most pet owners, any dollar spent is one they hand over happily. There are some ways, however, to save some scratch when you have to spend on man’s best friend.
Outside of unforeseen medical procedures, the most money spent on pets is for food. Of the $43 billion Americans spent on their animals last year, $16.2 billion was for feeding them.
The solution isn’t to buy the cheapest food, because that is most often not the healthiest option for your pet. The answer is taking advantage of loyalty programs.
Chains like Petco (with its PALS program) and PetSmart will reward you for buying pet food from them. In addition to the “Buy 10, Get 1 Free” system at Petco that is the basis of its program, you also will receive coupons periodically for 10 percent or more.
Once you receive these coupons, do your research online, find the items that are on special at the store and then apply these coupons. You will have saved an extra 10 percent just for spending money that you were going to be spending anyway.
Vaccinations are also pricey, and while they are vitally important, it can sometimes be hard to fork over that kind of cash when your budget already is stretched thin. This is another area where the major retailers are helping.
In response to the economy, Petco stores recently started offering vaccinations in their clinics nationwide.
Another fact of life for pet owners is that occasionally animals need medicine, just like us humans. Unfortunately, their medication is often just as expensive as ours.
The proliferation of online stores like 1-800-PetMeds and PetCareRx can save you money with their online coupons. On DealTaker we have just as many pet-medication sites as we do human-medication sites.
Finally, if you don’t have a pet but have been thinking about getting one, now is as good a time as any. Pet adoption centers often will have vaccinated the animals already and will provide you with money-saving coupons that will last you through most of the first year of your time with your new friend.
Few things can be as rewarding as owning a pet, and it doesn’t have to be as expensive as you might have thought.
Posted by DBiles on January 7, 2009
By DYLAN BILES
Media General News Service
Published: January 7, 2009
With the pomp and circumstance of another year passing it is only natural that one’s thoughts turn to the upcoming year and how it can be better. With equal parts reflection and projection, we think about the previous year’s successes and failures as well as looking ahead to the New Year’s possibilities.
For me, 2009 brings an extra degree of soul-searching as it marks the year that I will have spent 30 years on this earth. It is hard, at the end of a decade, not to devote a sizable (some might say, unhealthy) amount of your attention to where you’ve been, where you are and where you are going.
Of course, the New Year’s resolution is not a new concept and many of you will, like me, make the beginning of 2009 a chance to redirect your efforts to make the New Year a more successful one than the last. I narrowed my list down to three areas that I want to improve this year.
As I have looked into ways to attack them, I have been pleasantly surprised to find that they won’t require quite the financial investment that I originally thought. Here are the areas I’m going to focus on this year.
Reduce my debt: Like any good American, I have managed to accrue a bit of credit card debt and this year is the year I’ve designated to get this under control. CreditCards.com is a great Web site for finding and comparing credit card offers.
Instead of waiting for a “0 percent APR on Balance Transfers†offer to come in the mail, using this can help you get a jump and get the best information out there.
Lose Weight and Get in Shape: OK, so I don’t get any points for originality here, but like the man said, “Clichés are clichés for a reason.“ I definitely need to find a way to lose some weight and work some exercise into my schedule.
Then comes the decision of whether to go the diet route, get a gym membership, or, perhaps, both. Fortunately, both options become more affordable if you do some digging. Weight Watchers is almost always running specials online or there are coupons available which can, at the very least, ease your financial investment as you introduce yourself to portion control.
Similarly, gyms such as 24-hour Fitness have coupons for free two-week guest passes as well as dollar off 90-day membership coupons. Even if you are staying out of the gym but are planning on doing something like running, a new pair of running shoes (which can run you close to $100) are a great buy this time of year as stores try to liquidate their remaining holiday inventory.
It’s never going to be cheap to get yourself in shape, but you can lessen the impact to your wallet while you are starting out so that, by the time you are starting to see results, you won’t mind paying a little bit more to keep it going.
Get Organized: I always envied the people in high school and college who made diligent use of their calendars and organizers while I was left searching for a syllabus in my backpack, which looked like I’d emptied a waste basket into it. As such, time management and organization are skills I never really mastered.
Now that I’m 30 and can no longer deny that adulthood has found me (no matter how hard I tried to hide), keeping myself organized is much more important. BlackBerrys, which are synced up to Outlook and organizers from stores such as Franklin Covey are getting much cheaper these days. Office supplies are getting the end of year treatment as well.
Here’s wishing everyone a happy new year and success in keeping your resolutions, whatever they may be!
Dylan Biles is a moderator and bargain-hunter for DealTaker.com, an online shopping Web site owned by Media General.
Posted by DBiles on December 31, 2008
DYLAN BILES TIMES-DISPATCH GUEST COLUMNIST
Published: December 27, 2008
We’ve survived another holiday.
For every new memory for the family to cherish, there’s that afternoon you spent playing “Dodge the Stroller” in a crowded shopping mall or negotiating your exit from the parking lot in a fashion which has more in common with a black ops-style extraction than a commute.
Don’t get me wrong: I’m not trying to dump a bunch of Bah Humbug all over everyone’s leftover holiday cheer. I’m just saying that, if we are honest with ourselves, there’s a part of you that is kind of glad it is all behind you for another year.
So, with a few more pounds from a multitude of holiday dinners and parties, a few more boxes in our living rooms that we haven’t quite figured out what to do with, chances are you now find yourself with another little something extra: a pocket full of gift cards.
Those little plastic cards are becoming more prevalent during the holidays. I know there is something to be said for the personalized, “Well, they put some thought into it” gift, but it is pretty nice walking home knowing that all of those little things you almost bought yourself the past few months but didn’t are finally yours for the taking.
It is easy to spend these cards with reckless abandon, forsaking the normal frugal mindset you normally focus toward any purchase you make because, well, you are spending free money. This is the exact wrong thing to do. There are several things to keep in mind while going on your post-holiday shopping spree that will help you pocket more loot.
First, don’t ever pay full price. It is easy to forget about this simple idea when you are buying an item you’ve had your eye on but just couldn’t purchase when it meant spending your own dime. Set free from self-imposed financial limitations, shoppers will often make that impulse buy and never give it a second thought.
This is the wrong mentality to take. There are always deals out there for something on your wish list. In this day of online shopping, coupons and bargains new bargains on a daily basis there is almost never a time when paying full price is necessary. Don’t let yourself get sucked into immediate gratification.
Second, it is important to remember this: Gift Cards don’t expire. Yes, I know that there expiration dates printed on your gift card, but when those dates approach, you can always renew the card by purchasing another card with it. Most cards won’t expire for at least a couple of years anyway.
What this means for you is that you can afford to wait. Have patience. Don’t rush into anything. If there is a sweater that you have had your eye on and you know it will probably be marked down once summer rolls around, then just hold on to your card for a while. This is another place where online shopping plays a vital role because you can always check the stock and keep up with whether the item is on clearance or if the store is discontinuing the style without having to check at the store itself every week.
The final tip is to simply buy more gift cards. I know it seems strange, but there are many places that, at various times in the year, will offer 10 percent to 30 percent off your gift card purchase. Others will offer a free item or discounts on future purchases.
So, enjoy yourself while going after holiday crazy. Just don’t go too crazy.
Dylan Biles is a moderator and bargain-hunter for DealTaker.com, an online shopping Web site owned by Media General. E-mail him at Dylan@dealtaker.com .
Posted by admin on December 23, 2008
 BY DYLAN BILES
Media General News Service
Published: December 23, 2008So, we’re coming down to it now. The holiday shopping season is in the last stretch and, like a marathon runner who has run 26 miles and is just trying to get through those final two-tenths, you have almost made it.
Now you are faced with braving the malls, fighting the throng of last-minute shoppers as you try to find the few items you’ve been putting off and have yet to buy.
Or maybe you are among those who have to guess what their friends and family want because, even after weeks of prodding and pleading, they never sent their gift wish list. In my family we have a hard and fast rule: If you don’t tell anyone what you want, you get underwear.
Over the past couple of weeks we have talked about the hottest trends and deals in electronics and in toys. This week, as you are crossing off the last few items on your shopping list, we’ll consider some of the options, trends and fantastic finds in the world of clothing and apparel. And I promise we will talk about more than underwear.
In general, this is the time to buy clothes of all types. Clothing is a necessity but the amount of savings that you can find sometimes gets lost in a sea of Nintendo Wii’s, plasma TVs and Tickle Me Elmos during the holiday season. Between now and the end of the year, buying clothing is one of the best ways to save money.
First of all, most stores will have amazing deals on non-name brand clothes. This is a holiday staple as consistent as a 24-hour marathon of “A Christmas Story.“ 
Socks and T-shirts (and, yes, underwear) can be found for rock bottom prices in most stores. This means that you can stock up on the essentials without paying an arm and a leg.
This doesn’t mean, however, that you have to settle for non-name brand quality. Department stores this year are offering some great sales that are available both in-store and online. Prices for name-brand apparel and accessories (including purses and jewelry) are readily available for the lowest prices we’ve seen this year.
What this means to you is that you can stock up on Polo, Tommy Hilfiger, Nautica and the other brands whose higher quality normally require you to draw more deeply from your checking account. If you need a wardrobe upgrade, then this provides you with plenty of options.
But let’s say that designer brands are more your taste and, while you are willing to part with a few hundred dollars for a killer business outfit or a “knock-their-socks-off†party dress, you’ve found that the past few years have made those purchases harder for you to make. High-end designers are feeling the pinch too and, during the past couple of months, they have been offering discounts of 50 percent-70 percent on many of their lines.
In the last few days, we’ve noticed at DealTaker.com that stores selling items such as Tory Burch handbags, Ugg boots, Apple Bottoms jeans and others have really stepped up to the plate in regards to the amount they are willing to knock down their prices.
Mostly, however, apparel and accessory retailers are offering across-the-board, storewide discounts. For online stores these are coupled with lots of free shipping coupons. At most of your favorite clothing stores, like Gap, Old Navy and Aéropostale, you can find either coupons for up to 20 percent off your purchase, free shipping coupons on all orders or some combination of both.
So, whether you are buying new school clothes for your kids, stocking up on the essentials for the entire family or are just in dire need of an upgrade to your work (and play) wardrobe: Now is the time to buy.
Dylan Biles is a moderator and bargain-hunter for DealTaker.com, an online shopping Web site owned by Media General. E-mail him
