Addicted: Groupon and other discount sites

If there is one thing that I try to do on this blog it is be creative and give you gift ideas that are not your run of the mill gifts. I also try to include gifts that are cost effective (most times) and I wanted to share a new addiction--various websites that offer great deals at a discount:

Groupon

Groupon is a dream. According to their website, Groupon offers the best daily deals in your city. There is one for Charlotte and other cities include Brooklyn, San Francisco, Seattle and more.

Check out Groupon's daily deal - http://www.groupon.com/r/uu1345092

TIP: You can go to their site and find your city...or if you are traveling you can find out what the city offers that you will be traveling to. Please note that you cannot use the groupon the same day of purchase but buy a day or two in advance and you are set.

Half Price @ WCNC is local to Charlotte but I am sure that other media outlets share half off deals in your city. Check out their websites and search "half off or "discounts" and you are sure to find some deals.

The deals vary so there is something for everyone! So far, I have purchased:

-horseback riding passes

-kickboxing class

-salon gift certificate

-restaurant gift certificate

As a purchaser, please note that the groupon certificates don't look like anything special...I just print online but you could package it to make it special. I made my first purchase on Half Off today so I am not sure how that will arrive but it is being mailed so it may look professional and gift ready! The mailing cost was about $7.50.

I am sure there are many more discount sites out there so please share with me if you are familiar with more sites!

source: groupon.com, flickr.com

Shopping discounts: Macy's and J. Crew

OK! Here are some discounts to help with your shopping desires...


Beginning tomorrow (until the 3rd) at Macy's you can recieve 25% off as the store celebrate friends and family, just use code "MACYSFF". For J Crew use "Extra20" online at jcrew.com for 20% off any of their fab items until April 30th.

Macy's is also participating in their stores but for some reason I cannot upload the coupon...if you want it just email me at simonemcdowell(at)gmail.com and I will shoot it over to you.


Happy Shopping!

Discount at Rachel Roy

Want to grab something fab from beautiful designer Rachel Roy? Today's your lucky day! Go to http://www.rachelroy.com/ and use code rrfriend for 30% off your purchase. This offer is good until November 23rd.

Here are a couple of finds I came across via Ms. Roy's website...

Transfourmer Coat

Groupie-Hobo Purse

Criss Cross Back Dress

This girl is talented! Happy Shopping!

source: rachelroy.com

Tax Free Weekend: NOW

If you are in South Carolina or North Carolina you should be taking advantage of tax free weekend. Get to gifting-NOW!

HAPPY SHOPPING!

Save the date: Second Annual Library Book Sale

Mark your calendar for the Second Annual Library Book Sale at the Mint Museum Library in Charlotte, NC. Hundreds of beautiful art books will be available at nominal prices in the Ivey Forum on Saturday, may 16th from 12-5pm.

Books are duplicates of those already in the library's collections or items given specifically to the library for the sale. All the sale proceeds will go towards the conservation of the libary's special collections.

This is a great option for a gift for art lovers...it could also be a nice coffee table book. Plus, you are helping out a good cause.

PS: If you are a member of the Mint Museum you get to check out the books first...so get there at 12noon and you can shop with other members until 1pm. After 1pm, it is open to the public. Also, be sure to bring cash or checks....no credit cards accepted.

Happy Shopping!

For more information call: 704-337-2000

source: News of the Mint Museum newsletter

Borders Bookstore

If you are a Borders Bookstore Rewards card member you are in luck today! Borders is offering 25% off one list price item until 4/2/09. Click the link below to download the coupon.

http://www.bordersmedia.com/coup/coupon250331.asp?cmpid=SL_20090331_REW

You could use this discount to purchase a gift for yourself (nothing wrong with that!) or a gift for another-who doesn't need a good book? Also, don't forget about the magazine section and the bargain bin!

PS: If you aren't a rewards member...no problem! You can join at the bookstore for free!

From a short hiatus to a Sephora discount

Sorry that I took a bit of a hiatus! My day job has been very busy and I took a long weekend to visit family! I hope today's discount will make up for my lapse in blogging:)

Check out Sephora.com for free shipping when spending $50 or more...it's easier than you may think! Also, become a Beauty Insider to get free deluxe samples and more. Sephora has so many great items its hard to choose just one but one of my "must-haves" is the Sephora brand Coconut Body Wash..check it out: http://www.sephora.com/ The items in Sephora could be a guy gift (cologne), girl gift (everything else..smile...for example the perfume, the body gels, and of course the motherload of make-up)

Happy Shopping!