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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Murano glass has a magic all its own. The rich colors, the elegant swirling patterns, the exuberance…there’s nothing quite like a piece of Murano glass.

This handsome hand blown heart pendant features a glorious swirl of copper on a classic black background. The eighteen inch cord is comprised of ten strands of tiny black glass beads and secures with a lobster claw clasp. It would make a versatile and attractive addition to any jewelry wardrobe.

Best of all, it’s an amazing deal! The suggested retail price for this beauty is $325.00, but you don’t have to pay anywhere near that much. That’s because Overstock.com has it for just $67.49! That’s 79% off the original price!

Sometimes you just need a bit of sparkle on your finger. Sometimes you need the sparkle on more than one finger. And sometimes you need a whole lot of sparkle on one finger.

Whichever the case, you can solve the problem with this colorful set of five gemstone rings. You get one oval purple amethyst, one oval opal, one round blue topaz, one square peridot, and one round garnet all set in sterling silver.

In all, that’s five ways to dress up your hands.

The retail price on this set would be $100.00, but if you head over to Smart Bargains, you can get all five for just $49.99. That’s half off, and what’s more, they can guarantee delivery by Mother’s Day.

Black and white is one of the hot color combinations this spring, but it’s also a classic that never completely goes out of style. Diamonds, they say, are forever. Combine black and white diamonds with a deep, deep discount, and it’s hard to go wrong in either financial or fashionable terms. That’s why I’m excited about the huge sale on black diamond jewelry going on at Amazon.com right now.

This handsome black and white diamond infinity bracelet would look striking on any wrist.

The design is elegant and classic. 1.47 carats of diamonds sparkle in 10k white gold. The bracelet measures 7″ long. But you can see all that.

The list price of this piece is $1,400.95. Amazon carries it at the bargain price of $699.99. However, for a limited time, selected black diamond pieces - including this one - get another 40% whacked off the price at checkout. By my admittedly shaky mathematical calculations, that should save you roughly another $280.00 on this bracelet, leaving somewhere in the neighborhood of $420.00 to pay.

Less than $450.00 for a bracelet that originally cost $1,400.00? The real question is whether you can afford to pass up savings like that!

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.

Sometimes you just need a small sparkle to really make your outfit shine. Of course you want that sparkle to show wit, express taste, and not break the bank.

This charming pear pendant by Kenneth Jay Lane comes strung on a 17.5″ gold chain. The pear itself is classic black, but the leaf paved with rhinestones will add a touch of brilliance to any outfit.

Oh, and that bit about not breaking the bank? It’s true that this lovely necklace did sell for $105.00, which wasn’t at all bad to begin with, but now it’s available at Net-A-Porter for just $42.00! Designer jewelry at 60% off? Color me there!

Sometimes it’s a pearlized goldtone resin bracelet by Rachel Leigh.

This dramatic piece is equal parts bold and playful. And it’s a heck of a deal at Bluefly.com.

Originally priced at $140.00, it’s available now for just $84.00. That’s a discount of 40%, which is quite a deal.

Blue topaz and peridot make one of the prettiest combinations in the world of gemstones, in my not so humble opinion. Put them together on a pair of earrings, and I’m there. Of course, if you then cut the price I’m there even faster.

Take this gorgeous pair of dangle earrings from Overstock.com. They’re elegant, lightweight, and superfantastic. They’re also 60% off the original price of $200.00. That means you pay just $79.99 for them. Now that’s the kind of math even I like.

It’s official. This season, bracelets are huge in every sense of the word. Dramatic cuffs, chunky bangles, massive multi-strands, and most of the time they’re being shown in multiples. Color is big on wrists, too, and well up the forearm.

Of course what’s shown on the catwalks and in the style pages of the glossy magazines is usually toned down slightly on the streets.

If you want to get in on the bracelet trend without stacking gigantic mismatched ones nearly up to your elbow, you might want to look at this eye-catching set of seven cloisonne bangles available from Overstock.com.

The bright colors are spot on for this spring, but classic enough to look superfantastic years from now, as well. And since there are seven in the set, you can stack them all you like or share them with a group of friends.

Oh, and did I mention the price? Originally sold for $75.00, the set of seven can now be yours for just $29.99!

Now that’s what I call a practical investment.