Wednesday, February 18, 2009
The best places for online shopping deals (for kids and adults, too)
OK, I'm going to go out on a limb here and assume that, like me, you love a bargain. (Unless you are Paris Hilton, in which case, wow! Paris Hilton reads my blog!) So I'll show you mine if you show me yours.
This post is partly inspired by a wonderful writer I've connected with, Kim Richardson, who has found all sorts of treasures over at—didn't even know it existed online!—Goodwill.com. Kim has a book coming out in April, The Unbreakable Child. I haven't yet read it, but it sounds intense and brave and bold and I am sure it is full of the spirit that infuses her blog.
BTW, the white-gold-and-diamond mouse above usually goes for $23,250, but I found it online for $16,051.99. Just look at the deals you can snag during a recession!
KidSurplus: Name-brand clothes, toys, baby stuff, you name it, at excellent prices.
Half: I've found new and used books at major discounts.
Smart Bargains: A somewhat smaller version of Overstock.com, it also stocks basically everything from clothes to jewelry to electoronics, but I think you can find even sweeter deals here.
My favorite sites for finding online discount codes are RetailMeNot, Wow-Coupons and CurrentCodes.
Now, to offset the materialism radiating from your screen, here are some of my favorite do-gooder sites:
New Eyes for The Needy: Donate old eyeglasses to people who could use them.
Cell Phones for Soldiers: Donate your old phone and it's turned into a prepaid phone card for a soldier.
The Breast Cancer Site: Click once a day to give a free mammogram to a woman, paid for by sponsors.
Now, spread the love and share your favorite site for deals and doing good.
Oooo. You're giving me all sorts of sites that I really, really shouldn't go look at. I have credit cards, boredom, and no husband here to keep me in check.
ReplyDeleteUm, anyway.
My favorite site for ridiculously awesome things in all shapes and sizes has to be:
http://www.etsy.com
Etsy is devoted entirely to handmade items, many of them for really, really cheap prices. Check out things like earrings made out of recycled skate boards for you and adorable felt applique hats of every shape and description for the kiddos.
My favorite do-gooder site? Probably http://www.kiva.org/
With Kiva, you make a loan to help a person in a third world country get their business on its feet. Very, very cool.
My favorite online coupon site is Clevermoms. The woman who runs it has a child with a disability and started the biz so she could stay at home.
ReplyDeleteI also love "The Coupon Clippers". I purchase multiples of grocery coupons of stuff we use a lot and save tons on groceries!
Like Connor's Mom, I'm an etsy lover too! LOL
The best place for online shopping and daily deals available at smarterdeals.com
ReplyDeleteThanks for those, Ellen.
ReplyDeleteHere is my fav:
http://wantnot.net/
Barbara
Oh how I wish that I had a site to share. I am more of the in store bargain hunter...I like to touch things, although I do purchase plenty on line!
ReplyDeleteSo head on over to my neck of the web...I am back to blogging once again!
Thank you for the shout! I'm going to check out your sites as well.
ReplyDeleteI like this site for kids clothes. They are "Gymboree" at clearance prices.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.crazy8.com
I forgot to add about shopping through Upromise! In the last 4 years, we've received around 1500.00 back. ;-)
ReplyDeleteWow, this is great. I don't do much online shopping (a chair cover at Overstock that was cheap and pretty nice) and I hit thrift shops more than most people, too, but I'm bookmarking this page because those links look so very promising! I don't just love a bargain, I am in a position where we really have to pinch those pennies. Times are tough and getting tougher unfortunately...!
ReplyDeleteGreat suggestions, everyone! I have to say, the best thing of all is simultaneously shopping AND doing good, so I was extra psyched to find out about clevermoms. Felicia, I am sorry to hear things are tough. It's good to know that we can all get plenty of good advice (and entertainment) at blogs, for free!
ReplyDeleteOk, I'm having mouse issues. Meant to post down there, but that "photo-essay" post is dead-on.
ReplyDeleteFor the record, I'm also a huge etsy fan.
I don't shop much online. I don't have the time OR the money, but every now and then, I dally at good old ebay.
ReplyDeleteI HAVE been meaning to check out etsy.com though for quite a while and will do that right now!
Smart Bargains is one of my favorite online store for shopping. And my favorite website for online discount coupons is Dealrocker.com.
ReplyDelete