Free Fekkai Shampoo

Recessionista doesn't skimp on her haircare products -- she's a Kiehl's an Redken gal all the way. But Recessionista cannot resist the siren song of free salon shampoo. On Thursday the 17th of September, Saks will give you a free full-size bottle of Fekkai shampoo provided you give them a full-size bottle of whatever crap you are currently using (bottle need not be full or empty). Recessionista will be tromping to Walgreen's for the cheapest Suave or generic whatever possible to exchange for the good stuff. You should, too.

Free Flu Shots

Recessionista was felled by the flu for the past two weeks, and can attest to its virulence. Please consider a vaccination, just $25 at Walgreens or free at CVS if you are unemployed or uninsured.

CVS is giving out free flu shots starting in October. You can call 1-888-FLU-SHOT to find the nearest location and time.

Walgreens has an offer where they are giving away free flu shot vouchers if you visit a Wellness Tour bus between September 17 and November 15. The offer’s a bit limited, however, as the bus tour schedule shows it’s only going to be in 17 states.

Free Chik-Fil-A Sandwich

Recessionista lover her some Chik-Fil-A. Sign up at the site below to get a coupon for a free Chik-Fil-A sammy. Yummmmmmm.

http://www.chickenwave.com/

Jinbeh

This hibachi/sushi place has two locations - one in Lewisville and one in Las Colinas. They both have lunchtime hibachi specials: two for $22. You get a cup of soup (kind of salty), a little salad, and a two-meat your-choice hibachi meal. Service can be slow due to the individualized prep, but it's a good meal for a decent price.

Pet Meds

Recessionista knows she hasn't posted in awhile. Chalk it up to summer ennui. And vet bills which add insult to injury! Well, there are bunches of places to get pet meds for cheap. Costco and www.deadfleaz.com offer Frontline at a discount, and most pet med sites do as well. What I love most though is www.drsfosterandsmith.com -- they have a pharmacy that often is pennies on the dollar compared to most vet offices, and they offer free ground shipping as well as overnight shipping. AND, they have online coupons that are usually $5 off which offsets any expedited shipping at least partially. This is a great resource especially if your pet has a chronic condition and requires an Rx on an ongoing basis.

Woof!

Sprouts grand opening festivities

Sprouts is opening on Friday at Sandy Lake and Denton Tap. Lots of good local produce at good prices. And with the grand opening comes grand opening festivities:

• Friday 5/22: free buffet breakfast for the first 300 eaters beginning at 7:30a, plus 1,000 free reusable shopping bags for the first 1,000 shoppers
• Saturday 5/23: free goodie bags for the first 200 shoppers (store opens at 8a)
• Wednesday 5/27: 1,000 free reusable shopping bags

Got a tip for the Recessionista? Want to promote your deals here? Send an email to the Valley Ranch Recessionista at TheValleyRanchRecessionista@gmail.com

Memorial Day Weekend sale at Half Price Books

Recessionista digs Half-Price Books as an affordable alternative to bookstores, and this long weekend it will be more affordable. Everything in the store will be 20% off, no coupons necessary.

Got a tip for the Recessionista? Want to promote your deals here? Send an email to the Valley Ranch Recessionista at TheValleyRanchRecessionista@gmail.com

Deal on haircuts

Recessionista's hair cannot be cut by just anyone. It's fine, there's a lot of it, and it's curly. It took Recessionista a lot of time to find a good hairdresser, and Recessionista was AOK with paying $60 to keep her coif just-do. But Recessionista is even happier now that she's discovered Cool Cuts for Kids in Flower Mound.

For the kiddos, the highly trained hairdressers are expert in all manner of behavior and children's hair dos. There's a play area that doubles as a waiting room, fun seats for the littler ones (taxi!), and TV monitors at every station so the tykes can choose from a wide selection of attention-holding flicks and TV shows -- Dora, Disney and Wiggles among them. There is also a wide selection of hair accessories for the little princesses (and you know who you are!). While there, Recessionista watched a couple of masterful hair cuts and was impressed by the styling skills as well as the people skills.

Even better, Cool Cuts does not discriminate against adults! Recessionista sat in a normal chair, got a fantastic cut, and got the "Biggies" rate of, get this, $19.95! No, Cool Cuts doesn't provide color services or other full-service salon things, but for a great haircut at less than an Andrew Jackson.

To make your own appointment, call 972-899-5200. They're located in Parker Square in Flower Mound, and Kate the manager is a genius with a pair of scissors.

Got a tip for the Recessionista? Want to promote your deals here? Send an email to the Valley Ranch Recessionista at TheValleyRanchRecessionista@gmail.com

Win a $100 Target gift card

To help learn more about Furr’s and the cafeteria/buffet category there's an online survey. Click the link and enter to win! Please also send the following link to any friends/family members you believe frequent buffet/cafeteria style restaurants. All people who complete the survey will be entered to win a $100 gift card to Target.



http://www.zoomerang.com/Survey/?p=WEB22977M8NH8K

Got a tip for the Recessionista? Want to promote your deals here? Send an email to the Valley Ranch Recessionista at TheValleyRanchRecessionista@gmail.com

Free mole checks

When Fabulous Fan Cathy wrote to Recessionista about Free Mole Screenings, Recessionista wondered why she hadn't heard of the movie? No, no, no -- mole screenings aren't movies! This is having all the moles on your body checked to determine if any look, well, cancerous. This Saturday is an opportunity for a mole check at no cost.

FREE Melanoma/Skin Cancer Screening at 4 D/FW Area Hospitals
Dermatologists will be available to check moles and other spots for signs of cancer to determine if further analysis is necessary.
Saturday, May 16, 2009
No Appointment Necessary, Free Parking

Locations/Times:
Baylor University Medical Center at Dallas, 9 am - 1 pm
2nd Floor, Hoblitzelle Hospital, 3500 Gaston Ave., Dallas, TX 75246

Medical Center of Plano, 8 am - noon
3901 W. 15th Street, Plano, TX 75075

Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Hurst-Euless-Bedford, 8 am - noon
Edwards Cancer Center, Ground Floor
1600 Hospital Parkway, Bedford, TX 76022

Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Dallas, 8 am - noon
Jackson Building, 8200 Walnut Hill Ln., Dallas, TX 75231

For more information call the American Cancer Society at 1-800-ACS-2345. Or the American Academy of Dermatology at www.aad.org.

Got a tip for the Recessionista? Want to promote your deals here? Send an email to the Valley Ranch Recessionista at TheValleyRanchRecessionista@gmail.com

Free Beer Fridays!

Recessionista knows that Fridays in North Texas are Happy Hour days -- why not start off with some free beverage? Kegs & Cellar is the upscale wine store on the Northwest corner of Beltline and MacArthur, and they offer free beer tastings from 5p-8p every Friday.

Got a tip for the Recessionista? Want to promote your deals here? Send an email to the Valley Ranch Recessionista at TheValleyRanchRecessionista@gmail.com

Free mini-facial at Origins

Recessionista's favorite word is "free". Click here for a mini-facial from Origins between May 11-31, 2009: http://www.origins.com/minifacial/index.tmpl?ngextredir=1

Got a tip for the Recessionista? Want to promote your deals here? Send an email to the Valley Ranch Recessionista at TheValleyRanchRecessionista@gmail.com

Silverware sale!

Up to 85% of MSRP on sterling silverware. Log on to www.pfaltzgraff.com/sterling or www.sterling365.com, or call 1-800-999-2811. This is Mikasa's Friends and Family sale and goes through May 16, 2009.

Got a tip for the Recessionista? Want to promote your deals here? Send an email to the Valley Ranch Recessionista at TheValleyRanchRecessionista@gmail.com

Hey it's free

Recessionista subscribes to Hey It's Free (www.heyitsfree.net), a great place to get free stuff (most of it is samples, but you never know when something bigger will come along).

Got a tip for the Recessionista? Want to promote your deals here? Send an email to the Valley Ranch Recessionista at TheValleyRanchRecessionista@gmail.com

Working up a sweat

Recessionista doesn't glow or perspire...Recessionista sweats like a man when she works out. Not necessarily attractive, but it helps keep her in her current wardrobe. Where's a good place to do this?

• The sanctity of one's own home is an adequate place to work out if one has the space, the equipment, the tapes, and the lack of inquisitive pets who want to know why you are contorting yourself so.
• The canals around Valley Ranch are great for walking/jogging with or without pets, and a great way to meet other folks and enjoy the ducks and turtles and other people's inquisitive pets
• There are several new gyms in the nabe, including Gold's and Spa Fitness but you'll have to negotiate a deal
• The Valley Ranch Rec Center is the most affordable gym Recessionista has heard of so far: at approximately $5/month it sure beats the big chains

Got a tip for the Recessionista? Want to promote your deals here? Send an email to the Valley Ranch Recessionista at TheValleyRanchRecessionista@gmail.com

Fresh foods

The Coppell Farmer's Market is open for the season! Recessionista hauls herself out of bed on Saturday mornings to swing by for fresh, local fruits, veggies, spices, jams, mixes, breads and soaps, among other things.

Key things to remember to make the Farmer's Market a good deal:

1. Get there at 8a when they open -- you snooze, you lose most of the vendors
2. Bring cash
3. Bring a tote to haul your loot

Got a tip for the Recessionista? Want to promote your deals here? Send an email to the Valley Ranch Recessionista at TheValleyRanchRecessionista@gmail.com

Free movie rentals

Recessionista is a big fan of Netflix, but there are even more affordable ways to get your DVDs on. Of course you can rent for free from your local library, but if the waiting list is too long for a must-see there are other ways to get free flix rentals.

At many local grocers (the Kroger on 161 and MacArthur comes to mind) there are these big red kiosks called "Redbox". For $1/day plus tax you can rent DVDs from these things. Recessionista has done this before and it's really very easy -- you scroll through screens and screens of DVD titles, find one you want (that isn't already rented out), and voila, the DVD pops right out. You watch it when you want to, and pay upon its return. So if you want a movie for the same day, what a deal! At $1.08/day that beats Netflix or Blockbuster.

But wait, you say, $1.08 isn't FREE. So true. That's where the internet works in your favor. Just Google "redbox coupon" and you'll find bunches of codes to erase that meager $1.08.

Got a tip for the Recessionista? Want to promote your deals here? Send an email to the Valley Ranch Recessionista at TheValleyRanchRecessionista@gmail.com

Happy Earth Day!

There are so many ways to recycle unwanted stuff -- you can get cash back by selling at garage sales, on eBay, at many local used book stores, at consignment shopes. But sometimes you just want to donate for a good cause (and a tax deduction). Recessionista is fond of:

• Goodwill/Salvation Army/Dress for Success/Attitudes and Attire -- these are so easy, and don't forget to deduct the mileage getting there
• Newborns in Need and Project Night Night specialize in children's items (both of these are .orgs)
• Books for Soldiers keeps the military from going stir crazy, and Reader to Reader helps out libraries (both are .orgs)

Got a tip for the Recessionista? Want to promote your deals here? Send an email to the Valley Ranch Recessionista at TheValleyRanchRecessionista@gmail.com

DISD P-card Loot

Recessionista got a giggle out of this. Remember last year or so when it was discovered that no one at DISD was auditing employee P-card bills, and we learned that teachers and admins were buying clothing and jewelry and iPods and other electronics using our taxpayer monies? Apparently one of the guilty party's loot was repossessed by DISD and is now being sold on an online auction. http://www.lonestaronline.com/listings/categories/index.cfm?category=892326671&sortby=title_asc has 72 lots available for your bid. There is a lot of clothing in size 2-6P (Hilfiger, Mizrahi for Target), several Coach handbags with matching wallets and other accessories, computer equipment, digital cameras, and jewelry. Wouldn't it be nice if DISD used the proceeds to hire back some of the teachers it canned when they realized they were $80 million off budget?

Got a tip for the Recessionista? Want to promote your deals here? Send an email to the Valley Ranch Recessionista at TheValleyRanchRecessionista@gmail.com

The Outnet

Recessionista first thought this site was for alternative lifestyles, but www.theoutnet.com is a new site which promises designer duds for deals.

Got a tip for the Recessionista? Want to promote your deals here? Send an email to the Valley Ranch Recessionista at TheValleyRanchRecessionista@gmail.com

Consignment Event

My Sister's Closet is a semi-annual consignment event at the Dallas Convention Center next weekend (April 24-26). This is a great time to clean out your closets and earn some scratch! Consignors get 70% of the sales price -- and the consignor sets the price. And the consignor gets to shop at the pre-sale to snap up the really good stuff. Unsold items are either returned to the consignor or donated to charity. The only cost is $10.

Go to www.mscsale.com to register as a consignor or volunteer. Consignors are assigned a barcode which must be attached to the item along with the price. Item descriptions can be entered on the site for printing out, too.

Got a tip for the Recessionista? Want to promote your deals here? Send an email to the Valley Ranch Recessionista at TheValleyRanchRecessionista@gmail.com

Get liquored up this weekend

Sigel's on Lemmon/Inwood is losing its lease and liquidating (haha) its inventory. Merchandise WAS 20% off, now it's 30% off!

Got a tip for the Recessionista? Want to promote your deals here? Send an email to the Valley Ranch Recessionista at TheValleyRanchRecessionista@gmail.com

Free fun in Fort Worth

Today's the first day of the Fort Worth Main Street Arts Festival. It's huge, it attracts quality artists, and it's free. The weather's good today, so if you're not working this is a great getaway since it won't be as crowded as the weekend, or as rainy as they say tomorrow will be.

Got a tip for the Recessionista? Want to promote your deals here? Send an email to the Valley Ranch Recessionista at TheValleyRanchRecessionista@gmail.com

Allure Nails now open 7 days a week

Recessionista stopped into Allure Nails for the first time since it re-opened under new ownership this year (next to Domino's on MacArthur north of W Valley Ranch). Brand new spa pedi chairs, and clean clean clean, with a plasma TV to entertain you while having your feet done. They're now open 7 days -- from 9a on weekdays and Saturdays for the early birds, and from 11a-5p on Sunday. Sundays can be busy, so if you can make it there during the week you won't have to wait.

A regular fill is $17, but there are coupons floating around in the mail that offer the fill for $14 (nearly a 20% discount!). Recessionista says check it out.

Got a tip for the Recessionista? Want to promote your deals here? Send an email to the Valley Ranch Recessionista at TheValleyRanchRecessionista@gmail.com

Ulta F&F

Ulta's got a Friends & Family promotion this week: 20% off the entire purchase. Cards are not available in the store but are often in the stores surrounding Ulta.

Got a tip for the Recessionista? Want to promote your deals here? Send an email to the Valley Ranch Recessionista at TheValleyRanchRecessionista@gmail.com

Sprouts sprouting new jobs and healthy food

Fabulous Fan Jan writes that Sprouts is coming to Coppell this summer -- at Sandy Lake and Denton Tap, just a few blocks south of the also-fabulous Market Street. Sprouts already has a few locations in the Metroplex -- Forest/Marsh in Dallas, Flower Mound, Richardson, Coit/Legacy in Plano, Frisco, Southlake -- but this will be the Valley Ranch/Coppell area's very own.

What's the big deal, you ask. Well first of all is new jobs -- job fairs will be held Fridays and Saturdays for the next two weekends. And then there's the wares: Sprouts specializes in natural and organic foods that are, whenever possible, locally grown and harvested. Good for your health, good for the environment. Oh, and good value/low prices are part of its mission statement -- on Wednesdays all savings published in their weekly circular are doubled.

For more information on Sprouts and its upcoming events and job fairs, visit www.sprouts.com.

Got a tip for the Recessionista? Want to promote your deals here? Send an email to the Valley Ranch Recessionista at TheValleyRanchRecessionista@gmail.com

It's Flea and Tick Season

Fabulous Fan Sista Recessionista writes in about flea and tick killaz:

For a great place to buy Advantage, Frontline and Heartgard at a much more reasonable price go to http://deadfleaz.com. For 6 dogs, 6 months of Advantage and Heartgard was going to run about $800 at the vet; I got it through an Australian vet online (have ordered from him before) for $420 including insured shipping. Ta da!

Recessionista knows that a lot of rescue organizations use this service as well. Death to the bloodsuckaz!

Got a tip for the Recessionista? Want to promote your deals here? Send an email to the Valley Ranch Recessionista at TheValleyRanchRecessionista@gmail.com

Kwik Kar

Recessionista confesses she doesn't know much about cars other than how to drive them. That's why she's been going to the Kwik Kar on MacArthur and Cimarron for years. They're honest, you never know what Dallas Cowboy will be in the waiting room with you, and they give you a voucher for a free car wash with every oil change.

Got a tip for the Recessionista? Want to promote your deals here? Send an email to the Valley Ranch Recessionista at TheValleyRanchRecessionista@gmail.com

Spa Week

Fabulous Fan Chrissie writes to us about Spa Week. It's like Restaurant Week for day spas. It's next week, April 13-19. Most services are just $50. For more info check out www.spaweek.com.

Got a tip for the Recessionista? Want to promote your deals here? Send an email to the Valley Ranch Recessionista at TheValleyRanchRecessionista@gmail.com

CityStore

Ever wonder what happens to stolen merchandise that doesn't get reunited with its owners? Ever wonder what the City of Dallas does with surplus or old office equipment? Let the Recessionista put your mind at ease: it gets sold at the City Store (3131 Irving Blvd in Dallas).

City Store is open to the public every Thursday at 7:30a. Things you'll find there include:

• bicycles for under $50
• cellphones for about $5
• camouflage pants and jackets
• Kodak instamatic cameras (the ones that need film cartridges and flashcubes)
• VCRs and audio cassette players (and some DVD/VCR combos for about $25)
• digital converter boxes
• old CDs and DVDs (Beatles, Josh Groban, How to Win a Date with Tad Hamilton)
• baby stroller for $3
• 5-piece fireplace set for $15
• gym equipment
• tools, tools, tools
• luggage
• computer equipment
• office desks for $25
• binoculars
• camera lenses
• athletic shoes
• golf clubs
• hockey sticks

While this is not necessarily a treasure trove of high fashion (the clientele are mostly guys who look like they can build their own computers, fix their own electronics, rehab things in general) you never know what you might find. If you know a handy type of guy, they'll dig this better than the junkyard (no rats!).

Got a tip for the Recessionista? Want to promote your deals here? Send an email to the Valley Ranch Recessionista at TheValleyRanchRecessionista@gmail.com

SATC Sweepstakes

Fabulous Fan Kim writes in about the HBO SATC:The Movie $10k shopping spree sweeps, with daily instant win opportunities.

http://hbo.eprize.net/sexandthecity/index.tbapp?affiliate_id=2n

Hint: do not click on the link at work unless your volume is turned down.

Got a tip for the Recessionista? Want to promote your deals here? Send an email to the Valley Ranch Recessionista at TheValleyRanchRecessionista@gmail.com

Netflix

Recessionista has begrudgingly entered the digital era because her 1980s VCR just up and died. Once Recessionista got over her grief she bought a combo DVD/VCR player (at Target, alas no deals to be had for anything that plays a tape but at least it was less than $100 and got good reviews from a variety of tech sites). Armed with a new playback option, it took Recessionista about two seconds to determine that Netflix is a better deal than renting OnDemand so a deal was sought.

While no great deals were found, Netflix offers a little something-something: a free two-week trial period which has a value of $7 if you choose the two-at-a-time option (www.netflix.com). And by purchasing through the eBates link Recessionista earned $8 which is like another two weeks gratis.

Alternatively, enrollees can opt for 1500 American Airlines miles if they enroll through the link on American's Aadvantage site.

Enjoy your sofa surfing!

Got a tip for the Recessionista? Want to promote your deals here? Send an email to the Valley Ranch Recessionista at TheValleyRanchRecessionista@gmail.com

Zingsale.com

Fabulous Fan Chris writes that fans of ShopItToMe.com will also like Zingsale (www.zingsale.com). Recessionista checked it out and reports that this site searches for sales on more than just luxury apparel...the categories are comprehensive. It seems the site's in beta-testing and that most of the sales reported are from Amazon.com, but Recessionista says it can't hurt!

Got a tip for the Recessionista? Want to promote your deals here? Send an email to the Valley Ranch Recessionista at TheValleyRanchRecessionista@gmail.com

Chocolate is sweet but liquor is quicker

The Sigel's at the corner of Lemmon and Inwood is closing and has to clear out by the end of April, and rather than move the stock, everything will be on sale for 20 percent off.

Got a tip for the Recessionista? Want to promote your deals here? Send an email to the Valley Ranch Recessionista at TheValleyRanchRecessionista@gmail.com

Gap, Banana, Old Navy -- new stuff at 30% off

One of the frustrations of being a Recessionista is that a lot of sale items are the icky things that wouldn't sell anyhow, or out-of-season items. But Gap, Banana Republic and Old Navy are offering 30% off new arrivals this week online only. Use coupon code NEW30 at checkout to get the discount.

Got a tip for the Recessionista? Want to promote your deals here? Send an email to the Valley Ranch Recessionista at TheValleyRanchRecessionista@gmail.com

Shop It To Me!

If you're like Recessionista, you love a good label. Here's a way to find your favorite labels on sale: www.shopittome.com. When you go to this site you'll find a questionnaire with hundreds of selections of designer labels, a variety of clothing and accessory categories, and an opportunity to id your own sizes. Once the sign-up is complete, you'll get daily emails listing sales of your favorite brands of clothing and accessories!

Got a tip for the Recessionista? Want to promote your deals here? Send an email to the Valley Ranch Recessionista at TheValleyRanchRecessionista@gmail.com

Re-purposing sunscreen

As our North Texas weather warms up (present day excluded) we dig into our summer gear and wonder, 'Does sunscreen have an expiration date?'. Experts recommend starting each summer with a fresh batch of sunscreen...but what about the leftovers from last year? Sunscreen makes a fabulous shaving lotion for smooth legs! So don't feel guilty about buying new suntan lotion because you'll use every drop of the old stuff.

Got a tip for the Recessionista? Want to promote your deals here? Send an email to the Valley Ranch Recessionista at TheValleyRanchRecessionista@gmail.com

$15 off at Easy Spirit + subscription to Self

Recessionista has friends with oddly-shaped feet who swear by Easy Spirit. Now through the end of April they are offering $15 off $75 (that's 20% off for those of who bereft of calculators). This is only good at Easy Spirit retail locations (like the one in NorthPark) or online. And, you'll also get a yearlong subscription to Self magazine with your $75 purchase.

Got a tip for the Recessionista? Want to promote your deals here? Send an email to the Valley Ranch Recessionista at TheValleyRanchRecessionista@gmail.com

Christi Harris freebies at the Galleria this weekend!

Recessionista is a fan of Christi Harris, the local cosmetic/skincare/haircare prodigy with a retail location in the Galleria by Nordstrom and Saks. Recessionista has seen many friends emerge from a Christi Harris session looking beyond glamorous.

This weekend, the Galleria is hosting a three-day beauty bonanza (April 3, 4 and 5) and Christi Harris is a big part of that. Her latest marvel is the Precision Brow Planing tool -- shapes your brows without plucking or waxing. It's been featured in Oprah's magazine, and on Saturday the 4th there will be free (love that word!) brow clinics. Call 800-305-2509 today by 7 pm to RSVP for your preferred time on Saturday -- very few spots are available. so don't delay!

Don't fret if you can't get in to a free brow clinic. There are three opportunities to get Christi's freebies. The first 100 seated guests at her Smart Beaute sessions get gift bags and brow stuff. Times are Friday at 2:30p, Saturday at 3p, and Sunday at noon.

But wait, there's more! There's a $20k beauty package giveaway Sunday at 2p! You can register at the Christi Harris events up until noon Sunday, and you must be present at the 2p Sunday session to win.

Recessionista says, 'Have fun and be beautiful!'

Got a tip for the Recessionista? Want to promote your deals here? Send an email to the Valley Ranch Recessionista at TheValleyRanchRecessionista@gmail.com

Free pass for Sam's Club

Wish you could buy toilet paper in bulk but don't want to pay the membership fees? Wonder if there's a good deal on jewelry? Recessionista was flipping through today's circulars -- Wednesday is food day as far as circulars go -- and found a free pass into Sam's Club good for this weekend. If you're single, take a buddy and stock up!

Got a tip for the Recessionista? Want to promote your deals here? Send an email to the Valley Ranch Recessionista at TheValleyRanchRecessionista@gmail.com

Help around the house

Fabulous Fan BC writes in about Service Magic (www.servicemagic.com):

It's like Angie's List only you don't have to pay. You enter in your project description and get quotes from local servicers who are licensed, bonded, and highly rated. You never have to pay anything extra. I think the contractors have to maintain a certain level of positive feedback to stay on the list.

Of course, Recessionista loves not having to pay. And she likes that you're not obligated to purchase any service that's quoted. Two thumbs up for comparison shopping!

Got a tip for the Recessionista? Want to promote your deals here? Send an email to the Valley Ranch Recessionista at TheValleyRanchRecessionista@gmail.com

Grocery coupons and budgeting

Recessionista will likely never get $100 of groceries for a buck, but there are those of us who strive for this. From The Dallas Morning News comes this list of budgeting and coupon search sites:

• www.betterbudgeting.com -- a bit busy, but you can sign up for a monthly newsletter which makes it easier to digest
• www.stretcher.com -- a really busy site but chock full of info
• www.grocerysavingtips.com -- run by the same folks as BetterBudgeting.com, this is a coupon clipper's dream
• www.couponmom.com -- clip those coupons!!!!
• www.grocerycouponguide.com -- a blog that helps you cut your grocery bills by 50%
• www.wesabe.com -- budgeting and spending tracking application; Recessionista prefers keeping that sort of info on her Quicken

Got a tip for the Recessionista? Want to promote your deals here? Send an email to the Valley Ranch Recessionista at TheValleyRanchRecessionista@gmail.com

Vincent Longo on sale

Recessionista's favorite concealer is Vincent Longo. Site-wide sale gives 30% off, using discount code muadiscount. Go to www.vincentlongo.com.


Got a tip for the Recessionista? Want to promote your deals here? Send an email to the Valley Ranch Recessionista at TheValleyRanchRecessionista@gmail.com

Credit Report

Recessionista knows the value of good credit (her credit score is 802, thank you very much) but is frustrated by commercials with singing pirates that promise a free credit report -- because that song comes with strings! There's no need to sign up for any service to get a free credit report. Just go to www.annualcreditreport.com. Everyone is entitled to a free report from each of the 3 major agencies (TRW, Equifax, and I can't recall the third but as Meatloaf sang, two out of three ain't bad).

Got a tip for the Recessionista? Want to promote your deals here? Send an email to the Valley Ranch Recessionista at TheValleyRanchRecessionista@gmail.com

DGSE justified!

A few days back Recessionista encouraged you to take your jewelry to Dallas Gold and Silver Exchange for any needed cashola. The Today Show confirmed that places like Cash4Gold.com (the one with the MC Hammer commercial) will give you a fraction of what you can get elsewhere. The example they got: a $75 offer from C4G compared to a $400 offer elsewhere. So if you're purging your jewelry box, keep it local and get more bucks.

Got a tip for the Recessionista? Want to promote your deals here? Send an email to the Valley Ranch Recessionista at TheValleyRanchRecessionista@gmail.com

Double Points at NM

Heads up -- Neiman Marcus is having a double Points event April 16-18. Recessionista's still a little miffed with the new InCircle structure, but will always perk up for double Points.

Got a tip for the Recessionista? Want to promote your deals here? Send an email to the Valley Ranch Recessionista at TheValleyRanchRecessionista@gmail.com

The Garden Ridge Shop-a-Thon

The Recessionista hardly considers Garden Ridge the acme of high fashion, however today they are having a one-day shop-a-thon with those solar light thingies you twist together and plant in your yard at $20 for a set of 8. Don't be fooled by their shelves into getting the not-on-sale sets of 4 or 10 or 12. But stock up on those sets of 8 because it's less expensive even than simply replacing the batteries in the ones you have that are worn out.

Bedding was also a steal, but already picked over by noon. Perhaps they'll re-stock, but there are still some cute comforter sets if not. From Twin through King sizes.

Alas, the pink flamingoes were NOT on sale ($13 for a set of 2). Neither was the movie-theatre size candies by the cash register, but Recessionista still pocketed a few because they're still 1/3 the cost of the ones at the theatres. Shhh, don't tell.

Got a tip for the Recessionista? Want to promote your deals here? Send an email to the Valley Ranch Recessionista at TheValleyRanchRecessionista@gmail.com

Furniture

Again, from the pages of PaperCity comes a list of designer furniture consignment shops:

• Again & Again, www.againandagain.com -- specializing in re-fabbing antiques
• Consignment Galleries, on Lovers Lane
• Consignment Heaven, www.consignmentheaven.com, on Henderson just off 75
• Dulce, www.mydulce.com, on Oak Lawn
• The Jewel Box, www.thejewelbox.us, in Snider Plaza
• On Consignment, on Fairmont near the Crescent
• Vinya, www.vinyadallas.com, on Buena Vista

Got a tip for the Recessionista? Want to promote your deals here? Send an email to the Valley Ranch Recessionista at TheValleyRanchRecessionista@gmail.com

Nordstrom Rack

Fabulous Fan Elaine writes:

Went to the new Nordstrom Rack across from Northpark on Saturday morning. Even though it’s a bit of a mad house (just opened on the 18th), it had great stuff! Scored a really awesome purse, Charles David, lots cheaper than I saw on the internet. Also great earrings and a couple of good tops, one designer, for little bucks. Had to stand in line at the dressing room, 10 item limit, and at the registers, but they moved fast.I will definitely go back! Often...

Got a tip for the Recessionista? Want to promote your deals here? Send an email to the Valley Ranch Recessionista at TheValleyRanchRecessionista@gmail.com

Fabulous Savings -- literally

Recessionista stumbled upon a fabulous site: www.fabudaily.com. This is the blog for FabulousSavings.com, and every day it lists deals and provides coupon codes for a variety of online retailers.

Got a tip for the Recessionista? Want to promote your deals here? Send an email to the Valley Ranch Recessionista at TheValleyRanchRecessionista@gmail.com

Consignment galore

From the pages of PaperCity comes this listing of upscale consignment stores (Recessionista's personal faves are Clotheshorse Anonymous and Clothes Circuit which were mentioned in an earlier post); consignment shops are perfect for drumming up some extra scratch for your finery, or finding finery at great prices:

• Couture Consignment on Oak Lawn
• Labels Designer Boutique on Preston and Frankford (www.labelsdcb.net)
• My Secret Closet on Preston and Campbell (www.mysecretclosetinc.com)
• Revente on Mockingbird between Greenville and 75 (www.reventeresale.com)

Got a tip for the Recessionista? Want to promote your deals here? Send an email to the Valley Ranch Recessionista at TheValleyRanchRecessionista@gmail.com

A little about cosmetics

When it comes to cosmetics, the Recessionista is like a kid in a candy store. Still, she never buys department store cosmetics unless they're on gift. Just call around and ask if the brand you like is "on gift" -- the stores will be happy to answer, and provide upcoming promotional periods.

M*A*C cosmetics are fabulous, and while they never go on gift they do have an ongoing recycling program: bring in 6 old/empty M*A*C cosmetics (lipsticks, powder compacts, mascara tubes, whatever) and they'll give you a lipstick of your choice gratis. Don't need lipstick? Heck, ask what their most popular color is and then sell it on eBay!

eBay is also a resource if you see a department store gift you want (aka "GWP" or "Gift With Purchase") but you don't need any regular cosmetics.

Finally, Recessionista saw on Sunday that Kroger was discounting all their drugstore cosmetics by 25%. A good opportunity to sample something new.

Got a tip for the Recessionista? Want to promote your deals here? Send an email to the Valley Ranch Recessionista at TheValleyRanchRecessionista@gmail.com

Your computer is your best weapon in the war on full price!

The Recessionista went to NorthPark the other day for lunch with friends and of course the gaggle of us spent the rest of the afternoon lingering in the mall looking for who-knows-what. We were all quite enchanted with the wares in one store (whose name will go unmentioned; just look for the $14,000 couch) but the prices were insane.

RECESSIONISTA TIP: always get the brand name (and model name and number if you dare) so you can search for it online.

Recessionista is a watch fiend, and shuddered at the prices quoted at this location. She hopped on her computer and found one of the watches for 45% less, and the other for 15% less. So there!


Got a tip for the Recessionista? Want to promote your deals here? Send an email to the Valley Ranch Recessionista at TheValleyRanchRecessionista@gmail.com

Places never to go without your coupons

There are so many stores where it makes no sense whatsoever to pay full retail. Ulta being one of them -- between the $5 off $10 (hello -- can you say 50% discount?) coupons in just about every fashion magazine and the $3.50 off $10 (35% discount's nothing to sneeze at either) that seem to come just about every other Sunday with the newspaper, there's no reason to walk into the store without a coupon.

Chico's is another place that's coupon-reliant. Of course, the trick here is to spend $500 with them -- there's no time limit, ladies! -- and the floodgates open. Coupons will magically appear in your Chico's account, plus you'll get free shipping when ordering online. If you pay full price here, Recessionista thinks you're a little bit nuts.

Got a tip for the Recessionista? Want to promote your deals here? Send an email to the Valley Ranch Recessionista at TheValleyRanchRecessionista@gmail.com

The Diamond Jewelry Co

What girl doesn't like jewelry and watches? The Recessionista certainly does, and directs much of her love to The Diamond Jewelry Co (formerly Jeff the Jeweler). This locally owned and operated business is on Beltline and MacArthur in the Tom Thumb shopping center and the Recessionista has relied on them for:

• Jewelry purchases (duh) -- if you ask nice they might be able to work out a discount for you
• Watch purchases -- Recessionista's Rolex makes her very happy, and the price she paid was beyond competitive
• Jewelry and watch repair -- fast and affordable, and as a reminder a new watch band can resurrect 'that old thing' into a new favorite
• Jewelry creation -- the creative minds at DJC are knockout! Bring in your old stuff and DJC will work with you to create a new masterpiece. The earring and ring set fashioned from a pair of Neiman Marcus cufflinks always gets compliments; no one would believe the pittance it cost to create.

Best of all, manager Royce and his team are lovely to work with.

www.thediamondjewelryco.com

Got a tip for the Recessionista? Want to promote your deals here? Send an email to the Valley Ranch Recessionista at TheValleyRanchRecessionista@gmail.com

A couple of great NoKA Chocolate deals

The Recessionista is a big fan of NoKA chocolates, and loves stopping by the Northpark location to sample the best dark chocolates in the universe (the milk chocolate is exceptional too), chat with owners Noah and Katrina, and learn a little about the making of chocolate.

With Easter right around the corner, the fine folks at NoKA have created two special blends in dark chocolate and in milk chocolate shaped in bunnies and in eggs. Both the bunnies and the eggs are solid chocolate and weigh about an ounce. Pricetag? $2.75! Recessionista is in chocolate heaven. They make lovely high-end gifts, especially if you spring for the gift boxes (Recessionista is fond of the steel boxes). Oh, and NoKA ships. Great for business gifts, too.

In addition to the joy of chocolate bunnies, Recessionista is thrilled with the opportunity to take part in a wine-tasting event NoKA is sponsoring on April 8th featuring Maximilian Riedel. Riedel has been making fine stemware for 11 generations, and the stemware is hand crafted and customized for different drinks (the wine or liquor will flow from the glass to different points on your tongue for different experiences, appropriate to the type of beverage you're savoring). The tasting is $75, and includes the wines, the audience with Mr Riedel, fabulous Noka truffles, and a set of Riedel stemware that retails for $300. Why? For charity of course. So eat, drink, and feel good about yourself for doing so.

www.nokachocolates.com
www.riedel.com


Got a tip for the Recessionista? Want to promote your deals here? Send an email to the Valley Ranch Recessionista at TheValleyRanchRecessionista@gmail.com

Shopping for Books and Magazines the Recessionista Way!

The Recessionista was very distraught to find that her subscriptions to The Star and The National Enquirer were about to expire. Even more distraught to see that rates had increased. Harumpf. (Now, it should be noted that Recessionista subscribes to her favorite magazines because it saves tons of $$$ versus buying at the newsstand.)

So I hopped onto Ebates.com, found many magazine sellers and shopped for a combination of rates and discounts, and of course cross-referenced with coupons from BradsDeals.com. Here's the net: The Star was $61 for a year, Recessionista got it for a 5% savings; The National Enquirer was $68 for 6 months, Recessionista got it for a 15% savings.

Satisfied, I turned on the TV and watched an interview with a gentleman whose book has been optioned by Brad Pitt. A must read! Retail $27.50, Amazon $16.50, Recessionista $12 including shipping -- how? Ebates got me to Half.com for 3% off, and I added a $5 coupon from Retailmenot.com. To quote Will Smith, "Boom goes the dynamite!" Enthused, Recessionista repeated the exercise and got the new Jodi Picoult book for $9.

Let's not forget our local friends at Half Price Books. Beginning tomorrow and lasting a week, coupons abound for 20-50% off any single item. Didn't get your coupon? Drop me an email and I can help you out.

Got a tip for the Recessionista? Want to promote your deals here? Send an email to the Valley Ranch Recessionista at TheValleyRanchRecessionista@gmail.com

A couple more luncheon buffets

The Recessionista loves a good meal, especially if it's less than $15, and if it can stick to the ribs and eliminate the need for dinner.

Valley Ranch has a couple of yummo luncheon buffets that fit the bill, so to speak. Veranda Greek Cafe on Walnut Hill and MacArthur has a lunch buffet for less than $15 including beverage, tax and tip. The buffet includes salad, gyro meat, hummus, the best flat bread in the universe, rice pudding, and other items that rotate out daily (spanakopita on Wednesday, tabbouleh on Friday). Much tastier though less extensive than Ali Baba on 114.

Sushi Awaji is in the old Eckerd on the corner of 635 and MacArthur. It's set up like Tokyo One with sushi rolls, sushi, sashimi, fruit salads, hibachi grill, tempura bar and noodle bar including soups as well as desserts. It's a tad pricey at $16 but Recessionista thinks this is a deal for all you can eat sashimi. Free beer and sake after 5:30p. (Why does the Recessionista not plug Tokyo One? She hasn't been there for years after a bout of food poisoning.)

Got a tip for the Recessionista? Want to promote your deals here? Send an email to the Valley Ranch Recessionista at TheValleyRanchRecessionista@gmail.com

Dallas Gold and Silver Exchange

Jewelry is a key component to any Recessionista's look, but this Recessionista knows that sometimes the jewelry box contents can collect dust. After all, if we only wore the jewelry we bought years ago we wouldn't need to buy any more, right?



So what to do with fine jewelry that's been unworn for ages? Why, turn it into cash, of course! Unfortunately, eBay is not the best venue for selling fine jewelry that doesn't come with a designer name. A more fabulous option is Dallas Gold and Silver Exchange, which is located in a bit of a sketchy nabe on I-35 and Royal (well, to be more precise it's on Reeder south of Royal and just east of 35 -- driving there can also net you some day labor...). The professionals there will weigh your items to the 10th of an ounce, and give you the appropriate cash. Right now gold is going for more than $500/ounce. (And remember that 14k gold is only about 50% gold.)

It's quick, it's easy, it's cash.





Got a tip for the Recessionista? Want to promote your deals here? Send an email to the Valley Ranch Recessionista at TheValleyRanchRecessionista@gmail.com

The Ladders

The Recessionista knows it's a challenging time to be job-hunting. Everyone is chasing the same postings on Monster and CareerBuilder. The Ladders (http://www.theladders.com/) positions itself as a higher echelon of job boards by promising it lists only $100k+ jobs. While registration is free, alas seeing job descriptions and applying for jobs costs $.



What's a girl to do? When the Recessionista got the first email offering any enrollment package at 25% off, Recessionista knew that more bargains were to follow. Sure enough, a few days later a 50% off offer followed. And sure enough, a few days later a 2-week free trial followed and the Recessionista jumped.

So the Recessionista recommends registering for The Ladders, and waiting for the deals to come to you.

Got a tip for the Recessionista? Want to promote your deals here? Send an email to the Valley Ranch Recessionista at TheValleyRanchRecessionista@gmail.com

On vacation for the weekend

The Recessionista will return on Monday March 23 with tips on high end job searching :)

As always, the Recessionista wants to hear from YOU! Did you get a valuable tip here? Do you have a fabulous tip to share? Send me an email at thevalleyranchrecessionista@gmail.com!

Babe's Fried Chicken

If you've lived in North Texas for any length of time, you've sunk your teeth into Babe's Fried Chicken. The original location is in Roanoke, and expanded offerings abound at the Carrollton and Richardson locations.

Babe's is famous for its fried chicken and chicken fried steaks, and all-you-can-eat sides (salad, mashed potatoes, creamed corn, green beans and homemade biscuits) for about $15/person including soda, tax and tip. So let's talk eating strategies. Because Babe's lets diners walk out with uneaten meat and biscuits, Recessionista makes herself quite content with the yummy sides and has enough take-homes to last two more meals. That's three meals at about $5 apiece.

Recessionista says yummmm!



Got a tip for the Recessionista? Want to promote your deals here? Send an email to the Valley Ranch Recessionista at TheValleyRanchRecessionista@gmail.com

Discount Tires

Fabulous Fan Jan writes in:

Discount Tires on MacArthur and RanchView is the best. If you buy their tires they patch nail holes at no charge, and if your tire expires before its guarantee date they'll prorate the cost as savings on a replacement. And they're always having sales. This March they're offering three money saving promotions
$70 Mail-in Rebate on sets of 4 Michelin or BFGoodrich tires
Save $40 on select sets of 4 tires
Save $50 on sets of 4 wheels

Got a tip for the Recessionista? Want to promote your deals here? Send an email to the Valley Ranch Recessionista at TheValleyRanchRecessionista@gmail.com

Foofify Your Dog

The Recessionista's three canines must be kept foofy at all times. They've been experimented on by several entities from big box groomers to mobile groomers to day care groomers, but the best foofifying to-date has been from Allison's Grooming out in (gasp) Watauga. Yes, the Recessionista finds it worth her while to haul out to the hinterlands.



Allison is a lifelong dog lover, who volunteers with a local rescue group and has multitudes of pooches in her care at any given time. She's terrific with all sorts of poochie personalities, very patient, very kind to the dogs. If you drop your furfriend off with her, expect a clean and soft and foofy furfriend ready in about an hour. Certainly less stressful on the dog than the all-day rigamarole many groomers require.



Rates vary by breed. Rates also vary by location -- least expensive is the drop off at the Pamper Camper; expect a nominal travel fee in the NE Tarrant County area; expect a larger travel fee to lure her further. Rest assured, the Recessionista finds her furbabies happy with the quick turnaround, the all-natural shampoos and conditioners, and being handled by one serious dog lover; and, the Recessionista's wallet is happier than with any other groomer she's tried. Well worth the drive to the Watauga/Keller/North Richland Hills area.

Allison will soon be featured in Dog Fancy in an article on mobile groomers. To schedule an appointment, call (817) 301-6968, and tell Allison the Recessionista sent you!

(It should be noted that the Recessionista is challenged to find fabulous things to do in Watauga when her princesses are being beautified. However, she has found a lovely nail salon nearby which does a full set of fills for the low price of $14.)



Got a tip for the Recessionista? Want to promote your deals here? Send an email to the Valley Ranch Recessionista at TheValleyRanchRecessionista@gmail.com

Sunday Afternoon Jazz at Maple Point

Every now and then Recessionista has to put down her credit cards and relax with some good tunes. Maple Point is located at 5415 Maple Avenue in Dallas (south side of Maple, just east of Inwood), and lures its audience with great jazz music and finger food for the low cover price of $5.

This Sunday's line-up features THEM BONES! Sunday, March 22, 3:00 to 6:00. THE BAND: Tony Baker, John Osborne, Chris Seiter, Dave Butler, Eric Swanson, A.G. Robeson - trombones: Steve Sonday - piano: Richard McClure - guitar: Carl Hillman - bass: and Banks Dimon - drums.

Got a tip for the Recessionista? Want to promote your deals here? Send an email to the Valley Ranch Recessionista at TheValleyRanchRecessionista@gmail.com

Paperbacks Plus: A Lakewood Option to Half Price Books

Fabulous Fan Elaine writes to Recessionista:

Paperbacks Plus on La Vista in Lakewood gives cash or credit for recent paperbacks, and hardbacks if the paperback isn’t out yet. When you buy books from them, you can use half credit, half cash. I feel like you get more selling to Paperbacks Plus, too.

And, as a feel-good option, Paperbacks Plus offers un-buyables (due to condition or overstock) on a shelf outside the store for people who can’t afford even used book prices (lots of those folks in East Dallas).

Lots of fun to browse around in, too.

Got a tip for the Recessionista? Want to promote your deals here? Send an email to the Valley Ranch Recessionista at TheValleyRanchRecessionista@gmail.com

More on Movie Theatres

The lovely Hollywood Theater on 635 and MacArthur is not the only place to early bird the movies. Cinemark offers $5 first-screenings 7 days a week. For locations, go to www.cinemark.com!

Got a tip for the Recessionista? Want to promote your deals here? Send an email to the Valley Ranch Recessionista at TheValleyRanchRecessionista@gmail.com

Timberland

It doesn't often get cold and icky enough for the Recessionista to break out the all-weather boots, but every now and then the North Texas weathergods unleash a torrent of ice and sorta-snow. On one such day, Recessionista pulled her ages-old Timberlands out of retirement...and was horrified to watch the soles disintegrate before her very eyes.

So Recessionista tested the company's 'lifetime guarantee' and was delighted with the results! Timberland customer service did not mock Recessionista for inquiring about boots old enough to be Recessionista's elementary-school children, and provided her with a choice of new and fabulous replacement pairs! (Recessionista chose a pair of red silk-lined footwear with a foldover top to show off said red silk on less-icky/more-stylish winter days.)

RECESSIONISTA LESSON: don't be shy about asking for recompense! They can't say 'yes' unless you ask the question.




Got a tip for the Recessionista? Want to promote your deals here? Send an email to the Valley Ranch Recessionista at TheValleyRanchRecessionista@gmail.com

Handbags!

The Recessionista would like to draw your attention to http://www.bagshop.com/, a lovely retailer out of New York state. While no coupons were on Bradsdeals or Retailmenot, the site has its own 10% off coupon -- good on hundreds of brand names (except for Longchamps). Add to that no sales tax since the store is only in New York, plus free shipping on all domestic shipping for handbag orders! SCORE!

And repeat customers get 10% off additional/future orders. DOUBLE SCORE!

Got a tip for the Recessionista? Want to promote your deals here? Send an email to the Valley Ranch Recessionista at TheValleyRanchRecessionista@gmail.com

The Best Consignment Shops in Dallas

The Recessionista is not above trolling local consignment stores. Some have higher standards than others, and attract designer labels and near-new conditions. My two favorites are Clotheshorse Anonymous on Forest and Preston, and Clothes Circuit on Sherry Lane and Douglas.

Clotheshorse Anonymous is in a new location, next to Ulta where the Whole Foods used to be before it moved across the street. It's airier, with slightly more private changing areas. Recessionista has found such fabu labels there as: Hermes, Prada, Louis Vuitton, Escada, St John, Chanel, Manolo Blahnik, Fendi, Burberry, Christian Louboutin... There's also more affordable labels, too. Recessionista's greatest scores were a brand new with tags on Burberry shirt for $44, a mint in box Hermes scarf for $135 (and a small one for $33), and a Prada leather bag for under $600.

Clothes Circuit is a bit more claustrophobic and can be a tad less label-conscious, but the quantities are impressive. Recessionista lusted after a new in the box designer bag which retailed at $15,000 but even half price it gave your gal pause. Next time...

Both shops are also wonderful resources for recycling your lovely clothes and accessories, and even gift items. You must have a certain quantity of saleable items to open an account (I believe both require 8 items, so bring in at least 15 to allow for rejects), and it's another alternative to eBay and Goodwill to get cash for nicer things.

Got a tip for the Recessionista? Want to promote your deals here? Send an email to the Valley Ranch Recessionista at TheValleyRanchRecessionista@gmail.com

Noka chocolates

Fine chocolates -- especially dark chocolates -- are a treat for the Recessionista. Noka (pronounced pretty much like it's spelled) is one of the finest and is based here in North Texas. Started by a husband and wife team in Plano, Noka (a combination of his name and hers) has gotten rave reviews internationally and has appeared in celebrity goody bags for the Golden Globes and the like.



Can't afford the $4/truffle pricetag? Hop on over to NorthPark where Noka has taken over Dr Delphinium's space by the 1st floor Neiman Marcus/Tiffany's entrance. There, you can meet the owners, get a little education on cocoa beans (grown only 20 degrees north or south of the equator) and get a sample of some of the most delectable dark chocolate ever. Not to be inhaled, Noka chocolate is to be savored slowly -- the deep flavor of the small sample will last almost an hour.

Got a tip for the Recessionista? Want to promote your deals here? Send an email to the Valley Ranch Recessionista at TheValleyRanchRecessionista@gmail.com

Props to Ebates and Bradsdeals

The Recessionista's friends swear that Isomers Wrinkle Viper is botox in a bottle. I like my botox but my gal's on maternity leave so I decided to give this a whirl. I Googled it, found it on ShopNBC.com, logged onto Ebates.com and linked through to ShopNBC got a 4% cash back and before I checked out I opened a new window for Bradsdeals.com and found a coupon code for an additional 15% off. Total savings: 19%. Score!

Got a tip for the Recessionista? Want to promote your deals here? Send an email to the Valley Ranch Recessionista at TheValleyRanchRecessionista@gmail.com

Cheap gas

The Recessionista is obsessed with cheap gas. There are three local stations that have the privilege of filling her tank:

1. Costco on 35 and 121. Makes the membership worthwhile almost on its own. Note that the Costco in Southlake has been written up for shorting its fill-ups.


2. Race Trac on Valley View and Luna. Usually a few pennies off from Costco but no membership required.


3. Kroger at MacArthur and 161. Not always the cheapest in town but pretty close, and if you've put $100 on your Kroger card in the past month you get to knock 10 cents a gallon off the fill-up. Now, it hardly seems worth $100 to save perhaps $1.50...but I figure I shop at Kroger for things I need (bread is bread, carrots are carrots) so I might as well concentrate my efforts and save 5-8% on my gasoline.

Got a tip for the Recessionista? Want to promote your deals here? Send an email to the Valley Ranch Recessionista at TheValleyRanchRecessionista@gmail.com

Free vitamins

OK, Walgreen's is hardly a stylish hangout, but this week they are having a BOGO (buy one get one free) on vitamins. Recessionista uses Vitamin A, and is now stocked up for the next 6 months at 4 cents a capsule!

Got a tip for the Recessionista? Want to promote your deals here? Send an email to the Valley Ranch Recessionista at TheValleyRanchRecessionista@gmail.com

Eric Javits loafers at 85% off retail

The Recessionista has been a fan of Eric Javits since the mid-1990s. Great hats, shoes, handbags... But, oh, those price tags!

Recessionista was delighted to stumble upon some ultra-comfortable, ultra-stylish Eric Javits loafers for 15% of their retail cost. The Copine is a quilted suede loafer that comes in four colors: black, brown, orange and purple. They retail for $245, and are online at a major shoe seller on sale for $160. But if you act quickly you can get a pair for just $40, or two pair for $32 each!

Marmi is a shoe store with locations in North Park mall and the Galleria. They have a few sizes in stores but are happy to call around and have your size shipped to your home from wherever they are in the country. Recessionista took advantage of their sale-sale: buy two sale shoes and get an additional 20% off. Major score!

For Marmi contact info, go to www.marmishoes.com.

Recessionista also fell in love with an Eric Javits evening bag, but was loathe to pay full price of $300 + tax. So Recessionista does what Recessionista does best: she hopped online and did a search. Found the bag at a California retailer for $275 (scoring a $25 savings), and since there's no like store in Texas there was no sales tax (score another $25 savings) -- did I mention there was a paltry $3 shipping charge? Check out www.robertsfineshoes.com.

Got a tip for the Recessionista? Want to promote your deals here? Send an email to the Valley Ranch Recessionista at TheValleyRanchRecessionista@gmail.com

Hermes on sale

Nope, that's not a typo. French fashion house Hermes DOES have sales! Before you get too excited, the Recessionista must caveat that leather handbags NEVER go on sale. But if you've got the frequent flier miles to get yourself to New York City, you can participate in a phenomenal accessory sale. You see, twice a year Hermes hosts a sale in NYC: once in the February/March timeframe, and again in the September/October timeframe.

The sale is open to the public but NOT at the boutiques and NOT nationwide. The location is the Metro Pavilion on West 18th Street off 6th Avenue. The first day of each sale is invitation-only, followed by 4 days of public availability. What you'll find:

• Classic silk twill scarves at 40% off retail -- and if you're lucky and hang out by the stockroom door, you MIGHT score a cashmere shawl or chiffon scarf
• Fragrances, lotions and soaps for Recessionistas and Recessionistos alike for a fraction of retail
• Housewares including china and ashtrays that were never meant for ashes
• Small leather goods from belts to gloves
• Shoes which are remarkably comfortable because Hermes shoes are designed under the watchful eye of podiatrists
• RTW for men and women
• Baby gifts

This spring's sale is open to the public beginning Wednesday March 25.

Got a tip for the Recessionista? Want to promote your deals here? Send an email to the Valley Ranch Recessionista at TheValleyRanchRecessionista@gmail.com

High Fashion Deals through The Gilt Groupe

A friend turned on the Recessionista to The Gilt Groupe and the Recessionista is thrilled! Most days the Recessionista receives an email with a link to the daily high fashion special. Past offers have included Me & Ro jewelry, Narciso Rodriguez RTW, Marc by Marc Jacobs fashion, Kooba handbags...

Recessionista says check it out at www.gilt.com!


Got a tip for the Recessionista? Want to promote your deals here? Send an email to the Valley Ranch Recessionista at TheValleyRanchRecessionista@gmail.com