Category Archives: Shopping

Get Ready for Black Friday

Can you believe that the busiest shopping day of the year is upon us?

I am having a hard time wrapping my head around the the fact that November is almost over, but I am excited to know that we can get some shopping done with some big savings.

To help you make sure you are ready to score the best deals on Black Friday, I wanted to share that our friends over at The Penny Hoarder are launching an around the clock live blog for 48 hours (starting 3 p.m. on 11/25 and ending at 3 p.m. 11/27) where you can ask anything they want about the holiday, such as: Store hours? Who has the best TV deals? Are there any Target coupons? etc.

Ready to find the best deals??? Visit The Penny Hoarder Live Blog NOW!

Click the banner below to join in the fun!

the penny hoarder black friday

Seasonal Shopping at Gordmans

As the leaves hit the ground here in Wisconsin, we are getting ready for all of the cooler weather that is headed our way before we hit winter. We still have days when it is extremely warm but then we have the days where you want to bundle up with a blanket and slippers and drink hot cocoa. This is Wisconsin, the land where the seasons change, sometimes all 4 in one day.

Since things are cooling off, Zack and I went through his fall and winter wardrobe, only to discover that he has outgrown most of his clothes. Teenagers….they just keep growing. Of course, since he needed a few things I thought it would be a great idea for him to head out and do some shopping, so off to Gordmans he went.

Gordmans is still a fairly new store to my kids as we have only had one in Green Bay for 2 years now. Since Zack and Libby are both teenagers now, I like to give them a little more freedom when it comes to shopping and often let them go off together and get the job done and Gordmans was the perfect place to send them.

At Gordmans, new merchandise arrives daily offering an incredible selection of today’s latest brands, fashions and styles in apparel and home décor, big savings of up to 60% off department and specialty store prices every day, and outstanding guest service.

Thanks to Gordmans and their low prices, it has quickly become one of the kids favorite stores to shop at and of course, with their low prices, I’m totally okay with that!

Of course, when you unleash teenagers in a store to do some shopping for themselves, you know they are going to have some fun with it because – no adult supervision. The best thing about sending them off on their own, aside from the fact that I didn’t have to go with, is having a teenage daughter who takes video so you can put it on the internet to laugh at.

At least they had fun shopping, that makes me happy.

In the end, Zack walked away with 2 new pairs of joggers, a hooded sweatshirt, and a fancy new watch and Libby picked up a funky jersey. Overall, they spent just over $70 which means they did some smart shopping.

Gordmans Turns 100!

This year, Gordmans is celebrating being in business for a century. President and CEO Jeff Gordman has positioned the Company for continued success. Founded in 1915 as a family-owned business, Jeff’s grandfather, Dan Gordman, was innovative in leading the Company – he helped pioneer the idea of the racetrack-shopping configuration, making it easy to navigate a big-box store. He also introduced centralized checkouts, shopping carts and self-service shoes through his growing retail chain.

In addition to turning 100, guests can now conveniently shop online at Gordmans.com, providing 24/7 savings of up to 60% off department store prices, anytime, anywhere AND get free shipping on orders over $75!

 

Get Cooking with Lalaloopsy Kitchen

Having a little girl again has been a fun experience. Ellie is so different then Libby was at her age so now I am experiencing all kinds of things for the first time, especially the things that didn’t exist when Libby was little like Lalaloopsy.

I had absolutely no clue what Lalaloopsy was until Ellie started watching it on Netflix and by the time I discovered it, she was already hooked!

In addition to Netflix, I recently introduced Ellie to the New Lalaloopsy Kitchen Show on YouTube.

Lalaloopsy just got a whole lot sweeter! Introducing Lalaloopsy Kitchen – YouTube’s silliest baking show! Meet your hosts Tahani, Dariana, Katarina, Gillian and Chelsea as they bakeLalaloopsy–inspired treats with laughter, fun and a lot of silly mishaps. You’ve never seen a cooking show like this!

Of course, now that Ellie has seen Lalaloopsy Kitchen she wants to cook all the things, all the time!

You can check out the clip below to give you an idea of what the show is all about!

Doesn’t it look like a lot of fun???

 

Let Dad Capture His Adventures with the GoPro HERO+LCD

After our recent mini-vacation to the Blue Harbor Resort & Spa and seeing the kids and Alex enjoy the Riptide Surf Simulator and all of the awesome water slides, I’m beginning to think it might be time to add a GoPro camera to our family.

Just in time for Father’s Day, the GoPro HERO+LCD makes it’s way to Best Buy and it seems like the perfect time to gift one and start making more memories!

Capture It

I can just see Alex and the kids in the pool with the GoPro HERO+ LCD in hand capture some awesome 1080p60 video as well as some 8MP photos. 

With the built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, the GoPro easily connects to the GoPro App for shot preview, total camera control and of course, easy sharing to your favorite social media platfroms like Instagram and Facebook.

These amazing features make it easier to capture your incredible family moments!

Father’s Day Deals

Grab a GoPro HERO+ LCD just in time for Father’s Day and take advantage of these offers!

  • HERO+LCD (Sku 6954009) with free 32GB Extreme Plus memory card (Sku 9387066). Valid 6/14-6/20
  • Free $50 Best Buy Gift Card with purchase of the GoPro HERO4 Silver (Sku 8374096) or GoPro HERO4 Black (Sku 8374078). Valid 6/7-6/20
What are you waiting for? Start capturing those precious memories today!

How to Prepare to Save Big on Black Friday

With the infamous Black Friday shopping day right around the corner, now is the time to prepare to save big on the many deals on offer that day. The insane discounts and deals attract many people to shop on Black Friday. According to the National Retail Federation survey, 141 million shoppers spent over $57 billion last year. Although more people are heading online to get many of the same deals, there will still be plenty of people heading to stores to take advantage of door busters and other in store only offers. By properly preparing yourself, you can ensure that you will be able to not only get most of your holiday shopping done early, but you will also get the best deals.

 

Make a Wish List

The first step in preparation for your shopping is to make a wish list that includes any of the goods you plan to buy on Black Friday for your friends, family members, co-workers, and of course yourself. Once you have determined what you plan to purchase, reorganize the list to prioritize the items you will be purchasing to create a budget. According to Accenture, most people will spend between $250 and $500 on gifts alone, which is an increase from last year. Holiday expenses can add up, especially if you also have to travel to visit your family. Therefore, you want to make sure to remain in budget.

 

Research, Research, Research

Now that you have a good idea what you plan to purchase, it is time to do the research to find out what kind of deals you can get this year. Many stores publish their Black Friday ads 2014 several weeks ahead of time on websites like BFads, although some stores do not release their ads until closer to the day. As soon as you start to see the ads, look to see where you can get the best deals on the items you want.

You should also take this time to research the items on your list to ensure they are what you really want. Some items may not need much research, such as a particular game of DVD. However, you might need to look into TVs or computers to compare models and brands. Just because an item is an incredible deal does not mean you or your loved one will be satisfied with the item in the long run. You should go into the stores and physically look at the item and compare it with similar items to find the right one for you or the person to whom you are gifting the item.

 

Compare Savings

Almost all stores have some sort of deals and discounts for Black Friday. Therefore, you want to be sure to compare all the savings on the various stores, including online deals. When you compare online, do not forget to include any shipping costs. When searching for the right store from which to purchase the item, also consider how easy you will be able to get the item. If you have a long list of items, with most of them from one store, and another item is at another store across town, you have to make sure that the deal is worth the extra effort. If it is only a minor difference, then it might be more beneficial for you to purchase it where you already are.

Many stores also offer price matching. According to predictions by USA today, even more companies will be offering price-matching policies. When you research where to purchase the items, see if a store will offer any type of price matching services. Be sure to read any fine print, as some stores put limitations on certain Black Friday discounts on their price matching guarantees.

 

Create a Game Plan — and Stick with It

You have done your research, created your list, and checked it twice. You still have an important step before your preparation for Black Friday is complete: create a game plan. This includes mapping out which stores to hit, and when. Many stores have door buster sales that only apply during a specific time with limited quantities. Therefore, you will need to ensure you make it to those stores on time. Within the store itself, you should have an idea of where to find the items, and in what order you should look. With so many other shoppers, you do not want to be aimlessly walking back and forth trying to find an item.

Once you have created your game plan, be sure to stick to it. When you are shopping on Black Friday, do not be tempted to buy something as you walk by it, as this could cause you to overspend and break your budget. With preparation, you will be less tempted by the other items in store that you do not need, and that may not be a good price. By following these preparation tips, you will be prepared to save big on Black Friday.