Shop with Jen

Here's my Internet shopping advice. Read through the whole page before following the links; you might find some $-saving tips! Plan on spending a bit of time the first few times you try buying things on the Internet, and then sit back and wait for it to come to your door!

AN IMPORTANT SUGGESTION

I highly recommend using one e-mail address exclusively for shopping, as you get put on just about every mailing list that's out there when you register on these sites. Rather than clog your regular e-mail account with junk mail, use a free e-mail address from Yahoo! or Hotmail. If you've already registered at a bunch of sites with your regular e-mail address, most will let you change it in account management.

If you're ever asked for a referral name when you visit a site, feel free to use me! For most shopping, I use my jmanullangDELETETHIS@yahoo.com e-mail address. Sometimes I use JLSM97deletethis@verizon.net.

Stores and Outlets

I've done the majority of our Christmas shopping online for the past several years, and learned a lot about smart ways to shop on the Internet. One discovery I made was how many retail store web sites have web specials, online outlets, and clearance sales. Eddie Bauer has weekly specials on their web site, and they also have an outlet online. Shopping at Crate & Barrel's outlet in your jammies is fun and convenient! babyGap, along with the other Gap stores, has lots of clearance items.

If you get a catalog in the mail, most likely you can shop from it on the store's web site too. Look for a link for web-only specials or something like that.

SOME OF MY FAVORITES

Recently I've discovered some unusual web sites where you can find really great deals. Check these out, and do it often--stock changes regularly:

Overstock
This place is great for buying books and music, especially. Prices are often lower than Amazon's, and shipping is cheaper. You can also find some great buys on shoes (I got some Dr. Martens for $36) and home decor. It's one of those weird has-everything stores like T.J. Maxx.
Smart Bargains
Smart Bargains is a lot like Overstock, but they don't carry books and music. Nice selection of jewelry in all price ranges.

Clayvision
This stores sells "whimsical charms." They make them as key rings, jewelry, candle holders, ornaments, zipper pulls, etc. Adorable!
Pugster
Jewelry, Italian charms, beads, etc. Great prices.
Silver Shake
A great site for silver jewelry shopping. Everything I've purchased here has been very good quality, and beautiful too.
Office Depot deals
Here are the super bargains at officedepot.com. The page is updated often.
Wonderful Graffiti
If you've ever looked for a unique decorating idea, check this one out.
Creative Delights & Lettering Delights
How have you lived a full life without owning a sock monkey alphabet??? This web site sells all sorts of graphic alphabets, fonts and printable clip art images that work great for paper crafts. They often run specials on different categories of their products. I love this stuff; Kathy and I have both spent waaaay too much collecting things to satisfy our artistic leanings. Sign up for their newsletter and you'll get free stuff all the time.
What on Earth
This site has a bazillion hilarious items. I love it.
Cafe Press
If you ever wanted something put on a T-shirt, you can probably find it here. But you want it on a thong, you said? It's right here too. There are lots of other things too, and if you have a design of your own you can even sell stuff through Cafe Press.
CellPhoneShop
Looking for a cell phone accessory? This site has a great selection and pretty good prices too.
Etsy
I found a link to this site on a beading message board. It was suggested as a place to sell handmade items, but of course you can purchase them here too. There are some beautiful things available here.
Two Peas in a Bucket
Scrapbooking supplies, fun and informative stuff too.
Creating Keepsakes
In my opinion, the best scrapbooking magazine. The site is great too.
MAGAZINES. If you're interested in subscribing to any magazine (renewals or new subscriptions), check out www.bluedolphin-magazines.com, www.primedia.com, or www.valuemags.com. Their prices aren't any better than other places, but if you go through ebates.com (see below), you can get a rebate of 25-30% on the total.
Vista Print
Vista Print often runs huge discounts on their most popular products--stuff like business cards, invitations, note cards, magnets, etc. You can design them yourself and they cost so little and are very nice quality products.
LOW PRICES. Instead of searching every store you know of, use shopping search engines like www.mysimon.com, which will show you where stuff is sold and for how much. Sites like these can save you a ton of search time, and I often find stores I never knew existed.
What can't be found on eBay?

Rebates

If you're going to shop online, start at ebates.com. This site will send you rebates on purchases made at certain stores. Percentages of the rebates vary depending on the store, and are sent to you quarterly. You get referral bonuses for other people signing up under your name, too (hint, hint... use my id (jmanullang) and I get a bonus!). The important thing to remember is to start your shopping at the rebate site and connect to the online stores through them. Otherwise, no rebates!

I've been shopping through ebates since sometime in 2000 and have saved nearly $600 as of March 2007. Every few months I get a check for $20 or so... hey, it's enough for lunch.

Coupons/Deals

NEVER buy anything on the Internet until you've searched for coupons!

Even before starting with one of the rebate sites, check out these web sites for coupon codes: Coupon-Codes.net, NaughtyCodes, and Flamingo World. These are just a few of the coupon code web sites to be found. Content changes daily, offering codes for free shipping, percentages off purchases, freebies, dollar amounts off totals, etc. Between a coupon code and the rebate mentioned above, savings can be sweet.

For instance, there are several codes that will give a discount like $10 off $25 purchase, $10 off $40, etc., and by starting the purchase at ebates.com (if the store is listed there), you could get an additional percentage rebate. Not too shabby. You use the codes in the checkout process of the qualifying store and usually see the result in your final order total.
NEVER finalize your order without seeing the discount displayed! Trying to get a discount credited after the purchase has already gone through is a huge headache. Occasionally you'll be told that the discount will be credited in a separate transaction (Eddie Bauer does this) or that the savings will show up after the order has been processed. Only THEN should you complete the purchase.

ONE LAST THOUGHT: If you're going to try out some of my suggested sites here, open several browser sessions so you can have different stuff (coupon sites, rebate sites, stores, etc.) going in each one. This allows you to make comparisons, access necessary codes, etc. To do this in Microsoft Internet Explorer, go to File: New: Window. In Netscape Navigator, click File: New: Navigator Window.