Living Happily on a Shoestring: The Best Kept Secret of DC Bargain Shopping!

by Christine Wilkinson

My printer died yesterday, and I'm already utterly lost without it (can't print my Harris Teeter shopping list, nor my coupons!). When I mentioned that we needed a new printer to my husband, who is an education technology consultant, he casually suggested I try shopping at www.rasmus.com.

When he explained what it was, I felt slightly betrayed that he hadn't shared this amazing find with me sooner. Let me explain the site. Rasmus Auctioneers is an online auction site for businesses of all kinds, from restaurants to gyms to upscale furniture stores, which have folded and need to liquidate their assets (quickly and cheaply, I must add). Most are local, and if your bid "wins" the item, you must pick it up yourself.

This more thorough description is from the company’s website:

“Rasmus is one of a handful of liquidators who has combined the benefits of traditional liquidation techniques with the power of the internet to create a liquidation model which is fast, affordable, flexible, efficient and astoundingly effective. R.L. Rasmus Auctioneers, Inc. is one of the top internet-only auction sites in terms of traffic, registered bidders, e-newsletter subscriptions, hits, visitors, sales per year and items sold.

Unlike eBay or CraigsList, which sell a single item to a single buyer, rasmus.com is an event based liquidation site. Each event has a location, scheduled preview, closing and removal. Each event sells many assets to many buyers.”

Living Happily on a Shoestring: Black Friday Deals

by Christine Wilkinson

Black Friday is near...so near you can start as early as 3:00am tomorrow (eeesh!). A great place to review effective recession shopping is here. Don't forget to look in the newspapers and online for coupons before you leave the house or shop online (and print an extra or two for strangers -- it makes everyone happy).

While the deals are far too many to list, here's a smattering of what you can find.

Best Buy is offering a Toshiba Satellite Laptop (C655D-S5089; 15.6” w. AMD V140) for just $197.99. (Note: the store opens at 5:00am but tickets for this product will be handed out to those willing to line up at 3:00am).

Kohl’s, which is opening its doors at 3:00am, has a great deal on a Prodigy Hudson 5-piece luggage set selling for $89.99 (regularly priced at $199.99). You can shop online at Kohl's starting at 3:00pm today (!).

Not to be left out, JCPenny.com is offering a Protocal 5-piece luggage set for merely $38.88 (regularly priced at $180).

Target is offering a Westinghouse (VR-4085DF) 40" 1080p LCD HDTV for only $298 (normally $549.99). It is also offering the Wii Fit Plus Bundle with Balance Board for $67.00, which is $32 less than the normal price.

Walmart is offering an in-store only promotion for a $100 Walmart gift card when you buy a BlackBerry, HTC, LG, Motorola or Samsung Smartphone.

You Are a Verizon Winner...NOT!

I won!  I won a free netbook from the Verizon drawing on Cleveland Park Day on October 3rd.  The Verizon store rep called me last week to give me the good news, but I was out of town at the time and so set the appointment for today, and went out in a cold rain to pick up my prize.  It was worth it for a free Samsung netbook valued at $469, wasn’t it?  I felt so lucky.

Here’s what I learned upon arriving at the store: “Free” actually means you get the prize only after you sign an agreement to pay $59.99 a month for broadband service for two full years.  That’s a total of $1439.76 to get something they billed as a “Giveaway.”  Okay, I said, then I’ll take it unactivated, and sell it to someone who wants to buy the contract. But that wasn’t an option. In other words, if I didn’t agree to pay the money, I got nothing at all.  As I opened my mouth to object, the sales rep said, “It said this on the form you filled out when you entered the drawing.”

Weekend Deal: Kid's Themed Birthday Party

Photo by Marla

The Certifikid  weekend deal is $210 for a fantastic themed play party from Andy's Parties at either their Columbia or Silver Spring facilities. Or you can have them come to your home or location of your choice! Andy's Parties arrives and sets up a themed party with 20 options including Princess Party, Dinosaur Party, Safari Party, Rockin' Dance Party, Girlie Spa Party, Luau Party, Sports Themes Parties, Superhero Training Party, Astronaut Training Party, Boot Camp Party, and Jr Detective Party. Give your child a special and fun party at an affordable price!  Visit Certifikid between now and midnight on Sunday for this fantastic deal.

Certifikid features a single, daily, unbeatable, family value.

Deal of the Day

The Certifikid deal today is $20 for a Washington DC Movie Tour Ticket (50% off). Tour our nation's capital on a unique and fun guided bus tour through the lens of your favorite TV shows and movies, all while receiving behind-the-scenes information from tour guides who are all local actors and actresses! Great for taking out of town guest as well. The tour run every Saturday and the tickets are good for an entire year. Kinds under 5 are free.

Certifikid features a single, daily, unbeatable, family value. Certifikid deals will lead to savings of 50% or more on all things families want and need, including family friendly restaurants, play gyms, family entertainment and events, music classes, photo sessions, kids haircuts, baby proofing services, maternity boutiques, birthday party packages, and so much more.

Deal of the Day: 50 Percent Off at Pink Watermelon Kids

Today's Certifikid deal is $20 for $40 worth at Online Boutique - Pink Watermelon Kids (50% off). Looking for that unique, special outfit for your little one or the perfect gift? Pink Watermelon Kids is an online children's boutique based in Maryland that specializes in designer clothing and accessories from around the world. 

Certifikid features a single, daily, unbeatable, family value. Certifikid deals will lead to savings of 50% or more on all things families want and need, including family friendly restaurants, play gyms, family entertainment and events, music classes, photo sessions, kids haircuts, baby proofing services, maternity boutiques, birthday party packages, and so much more.  Visit Certifikid for this deal.
  

Deal of the Day: Let The Spa Come To You

Today's deal  at Deals for Deeds gets you and a friend a facial and pedicures at your location for 50% off! As always every purchase helps support local non-profits.  And as always, a portion of every sale on the site will support local non-profits.  This month alone we've already fed the homeless over 360 meals through our donations to Miriam's Kitchen! So give a little thank-you to you and a friend, get some at-home spa treatment, and give back to the community at the same time!  

Visit www.dealsfordeeds.com for more information on this fabulous deal.

Deal of the Day: 50% off Designer Shoes

Today on Deals For Deeds (http://www.dealsfordeeds.com) get 50% off Shoes by Lara (www.shoesbylara.com). With several convenient DC-area locations to choose from, you'll be sure to stop by and pick out some great new footwear from designers like Anne Klein, Joan and David, Via Spiga, Franco Sarto, Nine West, Aerosole, Naturalizer, Rockport and more!


And as always, a portion of every sale on the site will support local non-profits. This month you can choose to support Reach Incorporated (www.reachincorporated.org), Miriam's Kitchen (www.miriamskitchen.org), or the Epilepsy Foundation - Metro Washington (www.epilepsyfoundation.org/local/metropolitanWashington).

Deal of the Day

Certifikid Half Price Deals - Back to School & Gift Items & Custom-Made Mini-Documentary

The deal today on Certifikid is for $10 for $20 worth at Cattiwampus for Back to School Items & Gifts (50% off). Stock up on birthday gifts and back-to-school items at this great site for kids - newborn to age 8. Check out Certifikid for all the details.

Certifikid features a single, daily, unbeatable, family value. Certifikid deals will lead to savings of 50% or more on all things families want and need, including family friendly restaurants, play gyms, family entertainment and
events, music classes, photo sessions, kids haircuts, baby proofing services, maternity boutiques, birthday party packages, and so much more.

Certifikid: http://certifikid.com/area/washington-dc