Deal or No Deal

I know Christmas is around the corner and I should be out there shopping but I’m not. What’s your excuse? I guess my reason is because on Global TV, they were saying that things were going to get cheaper as it gets closer to Christmas. Is that true? Hmmm. 

I was at Wal-mart last night and noticed the Casio LK-100 keyboard with lighted keys is on sale for $97. If you check online, you can get it anywhere from $107 and up. Remember that’s not the delivered price. Shipping charges still needs to be applied.

If you’re still looking for deals at Linen & Things, keep waiting because now they’re advertising on tv and they said they have slashed prices from 20%-60% off. In my opinion, that’s hardly any dent to the high prices they are charging. For example, I bought a 2-pack water filters for my Braun coffee maker at a discounted price of $11. The Bay sold it for $14.99. Deal or no deal? Last Chance Liquidation on Barlow Trail proved that it was not a good deal because they have the exact filter pack for only $2.50.

Don’t go crazy at Wal-marts just because they are open 24 hours. Yesterday I bought a pack of Chinet party plates and today I returned it because Superstore sold it for $2 less. And since you are at Superstore, you might as well pick up J.K. Rowling’s new book titled “Beedle of the Bard” for $7.49 as oppose to $10.48 at Wal-mart.

Can’t decide on someone who has everything? Give a restaurant gift card via Restaurant.com – and save up to 70% off today using the code: ONLINE.

Life After 20 days

For those of you who work for Encana, please accept my sincere regret that you cannot leave town for Christmas nor New Years. If you could, imagine getting on Holland America’s 20-day South American Holiday Explorer and Antartica Experience on December 15, 2008. Your ship departs from Santiago, Chile at 5pm and sails to the tip of South America before reaching Antartica. Long before seeing icebergs and whiteness across the horizon, you will visit Darwin Channel and the Chilean Fjords. You will marvel the glaciers, each one of them ranging from Francia, Italia and Romanche, Alemania and Amalia before sailing to Cape Horn and Drake Passage.

After sailing for 7 days, you begin to relax. After 14 days, habits begin to form. What would life be like after sailing 20 days? I think it would be heaven if you were sailing the Mediterranean or the Orient but I heard it can be hell and back, especially when the Pacific Ocean meets the Atlantic Ocean. This happens to be around the tip where there is no landmass to level the swells and the wind whips the sea into the worst water passage on earth.

It may sound like a deal at only $1,789 for an inside cabin but if you get seasick fast, I would skip this one. On the other hand if you always wanted to see Patagonia, this may be your chance, even if you work for Encana.

Bulk Up on Roofs

There used to be an online store where they would compile all the buyers and make a quantity purchase. For instance, lets say I was shopping for a 18-day transatlantic cruise from Venice to Fort Lauderdale. I would post my interest on their website. In a couple of days, I would check and find that 500 other travellers were also interested in the same cruise. They would negotiate on behalf of the 501 travellers for a price that would be a lot lower than for one. It was a good concept but I don’t think it exists anymore.

I am in the market for a new roof. I was disappointed to hear that my cedar shake roof was deteriorating at a fast pace. I thought a cedar roof was going to last for 35 to 40 years. Unfortunately, it has only been 20 years since this house has been built. I made a few phone calls and got 3 estimates, at $10,700, $13,320 and $18,840 (same shingle). I also got them to estimate my neighbor’s roofs just in case they wanted theirs done as well.

I called the contractor and asked if he would give me an incentive if I talked my neighbors into re-roofing their house. He told me he would be willing to knock $300 off each of our houses. I played hard-to-get for awhile until he bettered the price. He ended up quoting $10,000 for the whole job and will include the extras that were listed on my estimate. In all, I would save $1,300.

The moral of the story is, team up with your neighbors and buy in bulk. Even a big ticket item like a new roof can be negotiated on. Drop me an email if you need a new roof and I will send them over once they are done in our neighborhood.

Say Yes to Cloning

Since my blog on ‘Buying Preown Golf Equipment’ back on February 25, 2008, a lot of golfers have contacted me by email, asking whether we are going to sell clones or not. The answer is yes, of course we are because we are interested in saving you money.

In my opinion, certain clone clubs are just as good as the brand name clubs they resemble. The only thing they differ in is the price. Take for example, the ZR1 driver from PineMeadow Golf that sells for $99. It resembles the new Ping G10 driver that sells for $299. If we taped up both clubs and tested them side by side, I don’t think most of you will be able to tell the difference. A good clone club should feel the same and perform the same. The only thing I’ve noticed with clone clubs is the sound after impact. In the case of the Nike Sumo drivers, some golfers do not like the sound of the impact which they say, resemble the sound of a baseball bat hitting a ball. 

I have been following square drivers since they first appeared on the market. There is a lot of curiosity and interest but not a lot of takers. Nike has just reduced the price of their Sasquatch Sumo2 drivers to $199.95. Nickent has also reduced the price of their 3DX Square driver from $299 to $149. I’m waiting for Callaway to drop their FT-i driver to something I can afford. To me, I would not buy an experimental design for top dollar. I think buying a clone is your best bet, just in case the design doesn’t work for you. PineMeadow offers the 455cc BLOC for only $99.

Another area to save some money are the hybrids. Compare the price of the Taylor Made Dual TP hybrids at $299 with PineMeadow’s Command BK’s at $59. If you think you would like square hybrids, check out the BLOC hybrids at $49, or their Callaway X hybrid equivalents at $49. 

They say to shave strokes off your game, you need to have a solid short game. I like the price of the classic grind black butte wedge from PineMeadow for $40 that compares to the Cleveland CG10 wedges that sell for $125. 

One more thing about buying clones from PineMeadow Golf, they offer custom fitting for free so that the club matches your playing ability and budget. You can find a selection of men’s and ladies’ clubs on our site under the Best Deal section.

Bag, Borrow or Steal

When I heard that name for the first time, I didn’t like the last word. I somehow think that word doesn’t belong in a company name but who am I to judge? Anyways, as of last June, these guys just got another round of funding from venture capital firms totalling $15 million. The company has a base of 250,000 members who pay a monthly membership to access and borrow designer bags. For as low as $19.90 a month, members can borrow bags from designer labels such as Cole Haan, Coach, Louis Vuitton, Fendi, Dolce & Gabbana and more. Once they borrow a bag, they can keep it as long as like and when they’re through with it, they get online and borrow another. For those of you who are interested, the name again is Bag, Borrow or Steal.

 

I guess there are people who are not-so-rich out there that wants to look wealthy. I can understand that kind of behavior when I’m invited to play at my brother-in-law’s country club once a year. I rummage through my closet and find all the designer labels I have. Ralph Lauren Polo seem to top my list, along with Tommy Hilfiger and Callaway Golf. And I can’t forget my Tag Heuer watch neither. Ok, perhaps I can pass until next year.

 

If you’re ever in the market for a replica watch, we have a deal for you. You can buy practically any designer watch replica for about $183 and it comes in an original box, gift wrapped too. I think this is a way for you to wear brands like Cartier, Gucci, Bvlgari, Longines and Rado without spending thousands of dollars for it. If you are interested, you know where to find us. 

How-to Save Money on Car Rentals

I think it’s time to write another blog about saving money with coupons. This time, I want to show you how to save money with car rentals. I find it amusing when I line up to pick up my car at the airport and overhear a conversation about how good their rate is. After hearing their price, I shake my head and giggle inside because I’m paying less.

Getting a good discount doesn’t require any magic nor putting a curse on anyone. It takes a little researching but aside from that, anyone can do this and write about it. Where do we begin?

1. Are there any specials on the website? Usually there is a tab on the car rental website listing all the specials available. If it’s a weekend rental then look for weekend specials. If it’s a week then look for weekly specials, etc. Take down the coupon code or discount code that you will need later when you book. Some companies expect you to print out their coupon and give it to them at the counter. I know Alamo is one of them.

2. Does the company you work for have any affiliations? Most corporations in the US and Canada have corporate rates. These companies have negotiated a rate with car rental agencies. The amount of discount will vary, depending on the size of the company. A saving of 10% is usual, but some affiliations can save up to 25%. Ask around for a corporate rate then ask which company is the affiliation with. This is usually called different things but note it down.

With these special codes noted down, go to the car rental agency’s website and enter the reservations area. Enter your trip information then enter the corporate code. If you have coupon codes, enter it into the appropriate fields.

Having an affiliated code is best to maximize savings. If you’re unsure about your corporate code or if your company is not affiliated with any car rental agency, check our site. We have made a permanent page for car rentals under our Travel section. 

Cruising is for Everyone

Going on a cruise used to be for the rich and famous. Now, it’s so affordable that anyone can go on one.Finding a cruise that you can afford is easier than ever. With prices as low as $34 per night, you can get a night of accomodation in a cabin furnished with a dresser, bed and television and get served at least 3 times a day. And no cafeteria food neither, you the full meal deal at breakfast, lunch and dinner. Some ships have a pizzeria that serves pizza in the afternoon and late night, ice cream parlors that offer sundaes and ice cream cones throughout the day. The larger ships have select restaurants for those who want a bit of privacy and is willing to pay tips to a waiter. And unlike any restaurant on land, menus onboard your cruise do not have prices.I’ve been on 7 cruises in the last 10 years and have a lot of tell. I’ve been on some real dives (and that’s not scuba talk) and lucky for all, those ships have been retired or are lying in the scrapyard. Most of the ships that you see sailing around are only a few years old. If they’re not brand new, they have been completely stripped down and the interior rebuilt.First myth, don’t believe it when they say cruising is for old folks only because it isn’t. There are certainly some ships that tend to attract the older crowd but you’ll find a full range of ages onboard, from the very young to the very old.Second myth, don’t believe it when they say cruising is boring because it’s not. Once you get on, there are activities for you to do. Everyone explores the ship (like Leo and Kate did on Titanic), checking out the lifeboats, running track, spa, shops, casino, movie theatres, swimming pools, jacuzzi’s, etc. After the lifejacket drill, everyone relaxes and starts enjoying their cruise. Some head straight to the bar and dunk one down before they start to relax. Others head over to the pizzeria or buffet and eat away their concerns.The last myth I am going to bust in this article is the price. People say cruising is expensive and is for the rich and famous. No it’s not, if you know when to book, what to look for and where to go. Just stick with us here and we’ll let you in on all the best deals.A great way to see if a cruise is worth going to, other than if it’s a must-see-before-you-die destination then do alittle math. Divide the price with the number of nights and if the number comes out to less than $140. If it falls between $150 to $200 then wait a little for it because it’s not quite prime. The reason this works is because you’re looking for a hotel stay + 3 meals. It’s hard enough these days to find a decent 3-star hotel room + 3 meals for $140. If it’s less than that then grab it before it sells out.