Shopping

With a Walgreens seemingly on every other corner, finding bargains and deals is easier (and more convenient) than you might think at the ubiquitous drugstore.

If you know how to shop its aisles smartly, Walgreens can be a source for many low-cost household essentials. Navigating the ins and outs of bargain hunting the chain can be tricky. (In our opinion, Walgreens has one of the most confusing coupon policies out there, especially with its Register Rewards program. We’re die-hard “cheapskates” and we still get tripped up.)

Our guide breaks it down for novices and experts alike. With some patience, smart shoppers should be able to “nurse” their need for saving money with these tips and tricks. [Read more…] about How To Get The Best Deals at Walgreens

Time for another of my (in)famous vents. Yesterday was April Fool’s Day, only the joke was on me. Last weekend, many of us found coupons good for $3 off three tubes of Crest toothpaste. As some MHOTC readers know, I often shop for local charities who need personal care products and non-perishable food. Safeway had the Crest toothpaste on sale for 99¢. Unfortunately, by the time I hit the stores on Sunday, there was no more Crest.

Okay, I get it, everyone wanted to get in on the deal. Stores restock their shelves every few days. Knowing this, I asked one of the managers at the Safeway on S. Havana when to return. I was told the toothpaste would arrive on Tuesday night and be restocked Wednesday. So, early Wednesday I drive over to Safeway and…yep, the shelves were empty. No Crest toothpaste. I asked one of the clerks, “What gives?” She told me that the shipment has actually come in Monday night and the store were restocked the next day. [Read more…] about Why I’m Angry at Certain Coupon Clippers

With the holidays coming right up, make interesting gifts for those on your list, save money and keep unwanted odds and ends out of landfills by shopping at Art Parts, a not-for-profit “creative reuse center” in Boulder.

Inventory includes jewelry/parts/supplies, frames, art/craft/school/office materials, fabric, yarns, sewing and other needlework supplies for serious artists and crafters, an eclectic assortment of other reusable industrial surplus and DIY items suitable for children’s projects that the store resells at 30 to 90% off. [Read more…] about Bargain Supplies for DIY Crafts & Gifts

Rockin’ Robin’s, Boulder County’s go-to store for vintage clothing and other consignment items, is at the end of its run. The owner is moving and everything must go. The closing sale begins today, November 9 at 10 a.m. with bargains aplenty. The discounts are generous and promise to get better every week until everything — clothing, accessories, costumes, jewelry, fixtures and all — is gone. [Read more…] about Vintage Clothing Sale in Longmont

After a two month wait, bargain hunters can once again scour the shelves of the Assistance League Denver Thrift Shop. The new, remodeled digs on E. Evans offer tons of space for clothing (men’s, women’s and children’s), shoes, handbags, jewelry, sporting goods, home decor and furniture — all deeply discounted and priced to sell. They even sell antiques and collectibles. [Read more…] about Big Savings! Assistance League Denver Re-Opens Thrift Shop in New Location

Here’s the latest… What’s this? Another MHOTC column? Well… sort of. I know many of you love reading Bryan Blathers and while I’m not one to muse at length on a specific topic, I have come to realize that there are all sorts of tidbits of news and snippets of advice I have to offer on how to find a deal or save money.

Often these come to me as I’m out-and-about, in casual conversation, read social media or from your emails. Sometimes I wake up at 3 a.m. and I realize we published some terrific event or deal eons ago and it has fallen off your radar.

Most are short and not worth a standalone post, but noteworthy enough that it gnaws at me I haven’t shared.

So I’ve decided to pull all these bits and pieces together. I can’t promise a set schedule or fancy format. I just want to let you know, what I know, when I know it.

Sometimes, Bryan may even jump in, as he’s the master of scouting out deals and the fine print that often comes with them. Here’s the latest news you can use: [Read more…] about Laura Lets Loose: News You Can Use

April showers may bring May flowers, but also sprouting up are garage sales. And so, we re-introduce MHOTC’s Garage Sales page (one of the tabs at the top of every page) this week. This is our brand new interactive map created in partnership with the folks at Garage Sales by Map, one of our favorite “go-to” garage, yard and estate sale sites. We think (actually, we know) you are going to love it, because it lists garage sales of all sizes across the Front Range. Some listings even boast photos of the stuff being sold. Best of all, you can add your own sale (or your neighborhood/community sale) and know it will be seen not only by MHOTC readers, but across the entire GSalR network – which is huge, as in millions of shoppers. Adding a sale is easy and FREE. Simply, click on Add A Sale at the top right of the map. That will take you to GSalR.com where you will need to set up an account with your email address, but it only takes a second. Then, post your sale – one home or dozens. You can even add photos or pay a small amount to GSalR to be “featured.” As we start to hear about large community sales, we’ll highlight a few each week in our Garage Sale post, so send an email to info@milehighonthecheap.com if your neighborhood has one planned. And, let us know what you think of the new page in the comment section below.

If you received a gift card under the tree, review Bryan’s article at Living On The Cheap — “The Coupon Insider: Stretching gift cards.” He offers tips and tricks on how to stretch ’em further than their face value. A gift card may be hard plastic, but it’s definitely flexible — if you spend it wisely.

Plus, most of the holiday gift card bonus offers don’t end until December 31 — so you still have a few days to “cash in” on the offers. You might even consider spending some of your Christmas cash (if you received some) on gift cards at your favorite retailers and snag the bonuses before they’re gone. Review our “105 Gift Card Promos & Bonuses” post for more details.

It seems as though thrift stores are becoming more consumer-friendly and modern these days. Good news for us “cheapskates”! You can join Arc Thrift Stores eClub for exclusive benefits and it’s all FREE. Membership includes invitations to early bird shopping events, thrift shopping secrets & tips, exclusive member-only discounts and opportunities to participate in surveys. Of course, since it’s an eClub, you must sign-up online.