The Basement of the Bargains

Tax rebate checks are winging their ways across the country. On average, single Americans will be receiving $600.00 in order to stimulate the economy. President Bush has said that saving that money won’t help, nor will paying down debts. Therefore, I’m here to help us all do our patriotic duty to find a good way to spend this windfall. Of course, I believe firmly that just because we’re stimulating the economy doesn’t mean we can’t do so through finding good deals.

So how do you spend $600.00 and still save? I thought you’d never ask.

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In the normal course of events, I leave all questions of footwear to The Manolo’s superior talents. He is the expert, the master, and the tastemaker. I am but his loyal minion.

Today, however, comes a sale that I cannot pass up and cannot fail to inform you of, and that sale happens to be a gigantic one-day shoe sale at Bluefly.com. Both men’s and women’s shoes are available at a fraction of the original price, and even of Bluefly’s usual discount prices. Shoes like these superfantastic Stuart Weitzman bejeweled Cuando evening sandals.

The combination of elegant black peau de soie with rhinestones and amber-colored beads is timeless with a twist. Delicate yet bold, and just a tiny touch sassy, these sandals would be superfantastic at any formal event.

Best of all, they’re on sale, remember? The retail price on these beauties is $375.00. Bluefly usually sells them for $225.00, which is a great deal. Just for today, however, they are marked down to $112.99! That’s 70% off the retail price and more than $100.00 off the Bluefly bargain price!

Not in the market for evening sandals? Not to worry. There are literally hundreds of fabulous flats, pretty pumps, bitchin’ boots, wonderful wedges, and superfantastic slides available at bargain basement prices from all your favorite shoe designers. Sizes and stock are limited on some of these, so I’d recommend moving fast.

Everyone knows that Bluefly.com carries designer clothes, jewelry, handbags, and so on, but some of you might not be aware that they also carry a wide variety of great deals on household items as well. I decided to take a spin through their housewares section this morning and lo and behold, lookie what I found!

These lucious leather nesting trays with white wooden frames by Vera Wang will look fabulous for serving drinks or just gracing your kitchen. Not wild about the green? That’s okay. They also come in a delicious shade of blue.

The retail value on these trays is $140.00 for the set of two. Of course, since you know where to shop, you can get a much better deal. How does $84.00 a set grab you? 40% off always sounds like a great deal to me!

With Mother’s Day coming up quickly, I’m guessing some of my readers are looking for great bargains on items to pamper Mom. And some of us are seething because a sibling has come up with the gift of sending dear Mom on a cruise or giving her tickets to Europe or otherwise sending her off on a fabulous adventure we won’t be able to replicate on our budgets.

Ah, but it’s possible to add to such a gift with something to make her trip even more enjoyable.

For instance, Saks Fifth Ave has an amazing deal on a cashmere travel set. Matching 100% cashmere wrap/lap blanket, eye mask, and suede bottomed slippers are all compactly stowed in a matching pure silk habutai drawstring bag. The set comes in four different colors and the slippers come in small (5-6), medium (7-8) or large (9-10).

Of course, all this doesn’t come cheap. Luckily, it does come a lot less expensively than it used to. Originally priced at $565.00, it can now be Mom’s (or yours) for just $338.90.

Best of all, there’s a free shipping offer on orders of $150.00 0r more in honor of Mother’s Day. Just enter code SPRINGFS at checkout, and save even more!

The hot accessory this season is the bracelet - the bolder the better. It doesn’t get much bolder than this fabulous sterling silver cuff decorated with one huge cabachon of tiger’s eye.

This handsome piece is guaranteed to turn heads wherever you go.

The retail price on this fabulous bracelet is $250.00, but if you head over to Smart Bargains right now, you can get it for just $69.99! Better hurry, though. They’re almost out.

Oh, and if you’re too late for the bracelet (or just not in the market for jewelry right now), be sure to check out their big cookware sale. You’ll get up to an extra $20.00 off on names like KitchenAid, Calphalon, Staub, and Farberware.

April is diamond month at Amazon, and that means you can get some amazing deals on diamond jewelry there right now.

This dainty expression of your inner wild child comes with 0.048 carats of diamonds on a yellow gold rope chain and a whole lot of attitude.

The list price was originally $119.99. Amazon then marked it down to $99.99 and made it eligable for free Super Saver Shipping. Right now, though, it’s available for 40% off of the discounted price for a check out price of $59.99!

And that’s not all. Check the site for 30% to 40% savings on other selected diamond jewelry (discount taken at check out).

If diamonds are your best friend, it’s time to get some new friends at Amazon.

I have long adored the look of a Tiffany lamp. The jewel-like colors, the warm glow, the graceful lines all delight me. Alas! these fine attributes do not come cheap. The simplest table lamp in the style often costs hundreds of dollars. There are imitation stained ‘glass’ lamps in the same style, but they invariably look cheap, tacky, and fake as hell. I thought I would have to go my entire life without one of these beautiful lamps all because I keep refusing to win the Lotto.

Well, now I can see the lamp of my dreams is within my grasp. A quick glance through the lighting section at Overstock.com showed me dozens of gorgeous real stained glass lamps at insanely low prices. Whether you’re looking for a ceiling fixture, wall sconce, table, or floor lamp, you can find the real deal made using the same techniques Tiffany himself did at a pittance.

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Now that we are officially past the vernal equinox, it’s time to start considering the important things in life: partying on the patio, for one. A good garden or pool party is always a lot of fun, but one does need plenty of glasses and pretty ones are usually very expensive.

Luckily for you, though, you’re reading this.

Take a look at these superfantastic Nachtmann Giardino amber water glasses.

The glorious orange color looks fabulous no matter where it goes, the graceful lines draw the eye happily, and the 10 3/4 oz. capacity will allow any thirst to be quenched with ease. Or you could always use it to serve an elegant parfait for dessert.

Each piece is carefully hand crafted of 24 per cent lead crystal via a combination of centuries-old techniques and the most advanced, eco-friendly technology.

With craftsmanship and beauty like this, you’d expect to pay a bundle, wouldn’t you? Well, once upon a time you’d have had to shell out about eighty dollars for a set of four. Right now, though, Amazon has them for just $16.24 for a set of four! That’s a savings of 80%! $16.24! For four lead crystal goblets! You could easily spend that much on plastic! What’s more, if you buy $25.00 worth of qualifying merchandise, these glasses are eligible for Free Super Shipping. Get two sets and don’t pay a penny to have them delivered to your door.

Macy*s is having a great sale on jewelry right now, so I headed over to check it out. Lo and behold, this ring caught my eye in a big way:

Those are multicolored sapphires set between two rows of diamonds for a spectacular sparkle.

The original price on this beauty was $1,500.00, but it’s been marked down to just $899.00. Plus, if you buy it right now you can get a pair of diamond stud earrings to go with it for just $59.00! Now that’s what I call a bargain.

Sometimes it takes a little hunting to find the perfect perfume. Even if it smells good in the bottle, that doesn’t mean it’s going to react well with your particular body chemistry. You may find that while it smells pretty, it doesn’t really excite you enough to be your signiture scent. You may simply prefer variety over consistency and not want to settle on just one perfume for all occassions.

But buying perfume gets pricey awfully quickly - particularly if you prefer designer scents.

What to do? Why sign up for Perfume Emporium’s Mini of the Month Club, of course!

<> Each month you’ll receive a new sample bottle of a designer scent. Calvin Klein, Dolce & Gabbana, Versace…this is your chance to try out those wildly expensive perfumes without spending a lot of money. A six-month membership with cost you just $50.00, a 58% savings over the retail value of $120.00. The twelve-month membership is $100.00, down from the retail value of $240.00. The It also makes a great gift for someone who likes to dabble with scents. There’s even a men’s mini club for the guy who likes to smell good, too.