Shopping Buzz Words

Whenever an item is for sale to the public for 40% to 80% below retail, common sense tells us there’s a reason. Usually it will fall into one of several categories. All these categories are valid reasons to mark down an item, although they are not always presented to the consumer in a forthright manner. If the seller doesn’t (or won’t) reveal why he’s selling it so cheap, chances are it falls into one of the following categories:

End of Season
Pertains to merchandise that is seasonal in nature and is discounted before the season is finished or at the beginning of the next season. Usually first quality, these items are often seen at seasonal department store sales… after Christmas sales etc. Many discount operations carry last seasons merchandise at 50% savings or better. Discounts should be a minimum of 30% at “End of Season Sales”.

Special Purchase or Purchase Product
Often indicates a situation when the merchandise is below the usual quality of the manufacturer. This is product especially made for a sale or outlet store. This deception is seen a lot at major sales and at factory outlet malls. The implication is that whatever is in a certain maker’s store is made by them. If it is, chances are it is of inferior quality, design and/or materials. This product has not been sold anywhere else at a higher price.

Closeouts
Generally pertains to discontinued products that are no longer manufactured. In most cases this does not affect the merchandise, but if and when there are parts that must be replaced it could present a problem. The term can also mean that the retailer simply needs to make room for more merchandise. It’s also important to ask “Who is doing the closing out?” If it’s the factory, the price should be excellent and BELOW wholesale.

Irregulars
Merchandise with minor imperfections, often not discernible. Perhaps a piece of lint got caught in the fabric and there’s a “flub” in the material. In apparel it could mean a different or “off” cut that could effect fit.
Seconds
Merchandise with more of an imperfection, usually visible but doesn’t effect use. In apparel, this should be indicated in some manner, but sometimes it isn’t, so look items over carefully. A seam might have come undone ... easy to fix or perhaps a variance in dye lots which could be a problem. In china or crystal it’s usually very minor, such as a blurred imprint on the bottom…or maybe none at all.

Discontinued
Product that is out of production. Could be a problem later on, if replacement parts are needed.
Factory Overruns AKA Overproduction
Manufacturers usually make more than they need to handle reorders, so often there is a certain percentage left.

Overstocks
A different story here indicates that the retailer ordered more than he could sell. Sale prices should be only slightly over wholesale.

Liquidated Stock
When a manufacturer or retailer is going out of business, rather than sell of the merchandise piecemeal, they will call in a liquidator who bids for the lot and may sell it to the public. Some of the very best deals are at liquidation sales.
Freight Damaged
Items where the box is damaged on not presentable to the general public. Sometimes the product is damaged, sometimes it’s just fine. Any sales of these items should be fully inspected and tried.

Refurbished Product
This product was either a customer return or freight damaged product and has been inspected and serviced as necessary to guarantee it will perform to full manufacturer specifications. The safest buys are when it’s refurbished or serviced at the manufacturers factory or factory authorized dealer. Look for stickers that say Factory Refurbished. It should come with some kind of a warranty.

Samples
These are the initial products that are made to present to buyers. Most companies produce samples before they put it into production. These samples may not go into production and as a result are a “one of a kind item”. In apparel they may be “mock ups” where the quality isn’t as high as the production line or a small production used by reps to present to buyers.

Floor Samples
Floor samples are actual demos of the item. Floor samples in electronics or furniture often are good deals with only a minimum of use and savings of 30%-50%. In electronics, the drawback may be that once they sell the floor model it is last seasons technology.

Scratch and Dent
Products with cosmetic blemishes which does not effect operation or use of product. These can be floor models, customer returns or items damaged in shipping.

Free tax preparation and filing through AARP

AARP will do your taxes for FREE as long as it is not a complicated return. Just go on their web site to find a location near you. And, you do not have to belong to AARP to take advantage of this.
The AARP site says “AARP Tax-Aide is the nation’s largest free, volunteer-run tax assistance and preparation service. It is available to taxpayers with low- and moderate-incomes and gives special attention to people age 60 and older.”
To get the free help go into one of the 6,500 centers around the country. Many are located in senior centers, libraries, and community centers. The service is for people who have simple 1040, 1040A, and 1040EZ returns, including if you use Schedule A and B. If it’s more complicated than that, they can’t help. You can file your taxes electronically at most sites for free.
The sites open in Jan/Feb and stay open until April 15. Find an AARP Tax-Aide site near you. If you’re not sure if you qualify because of your income, call a center near you. You can also ask a question about your federal returns and get an answer for free.

Sales

The Warehouse Sale is returning to Orange County on 2/19(noon-8pm)-2/20 (10am-4pm). Save 50%-80% on men and women’s premium designer jeans, tanks, tees, polos, blouses, dresses, jackets, coats skirts and more along with sunglasses by Gucci, YSL, Giorgio Armani, Alexander McQueen and more. Radisson Hotel Newport Beach., Pacific Ballroom, 4545 MacArthur Blvd., Newport Beach, 92660. RSVP at the WarehouseSale.com to get in FREE. Cash/ CC only.

Costa Mesa’s ShopGirl by Lisa & Helen is closing their doors. Find savings of 30% -50% throughout the store on dresses, jeans, tops, outerwear by Theory, Joie, Catherine Malandrino and more. 69 E. 17th St. #4, Costa Mesa, 949.574.9622.

Weekly Grocery Specials 2-3-10 to 2-10-10

Ralphs

*Pork Spare Ribs .99lb BEST DEAL
MOIST AND TENDER OVEN BAKED BBQ RIBS
2-4 lbs. boneless beef or pork ribs
1/4 c. salt
1/4 c. sugar
3 (18 oz.) Barbeque Sauce
Paprika
Preheat oven to 250 degrees. Mix equal amount of salt and sugar. Add in paprika to taste. Roll each portion of meat in sugar-salt-paprika mixture. Place meat in large baking dish in about one inch of water (or halfway each rib).
Bake at 250 degrees for one hour - remove from oven - turn meat. Bake at 250 degrees for one hour - remove from oven. Drain and add barbeque sauce as needed - increase heat to 400 degrees. Bake 30 minutes. Remove from oven and serve.

*Ribeye Steak 3.99lb
*Fresh Atlantic salmon 4.99lb
*Chicken legs quarters .99lbTri Tip Steak 3.99lb
*Farmer John or Bar S wieners 5 for 5.00EXLarge cooked shrimp 6.99lb
Large King Crab Legs 7.99lb
Raw grilling shrimp 5.99lb

*Red Seedless Grapes .88lb
*Iceberg lettuce .79ea
Broccoli or cauliflower .99lb
*Baby peeled carrots bag .99ea
Red Grapefruit .79ea
*Haas Avocados 10 for 10

From the Deli
*15 Piece Boneless chicken wings 5>00
Slab cooked Baby Back ribs 9.99
Assorted veggie trays 7.99ea
Cheese Tray 9.99ea
8Piece baked or fried chicken 5.99ea

Smart and Final
*Foster Farms half chicken breasts .99lb
First Street beef meatballs 4 lb bag 2.49lb
*Fresh Farmer John pork ribs 1.69lb
Cattleman’s Finest Tri Tip roast 2.99lb
*First Street 1/4lb hamburger patties 5lb pack 7.99
*First Street shredded cheese 2lb bag 4.49
*Mission Tortilla Chips 22oz 1.99

VONS

Big Game 5 Day Sale 2-3 to 2-7
Lay’s potato chip 1.88
Sweet Baby Rays BBQ sauce .99 ea
Lucerne Shredded or Chunk cheese 32oz 5.99
Ritz or Wheat Thins 2 for 4.00
Buy # Save 3.00 Pizza, Calif Pizza Kitchen, DiGiorno, Red Baron, Freschetta or Safeway Select

Spectacular Steak Sale
New York Strip 3.47lb
Top Sirloin 3.77lb
Rib eye Steak 3.97lb
*Foster Farms chicken breasts .97lb
Pork Loin Ribs 2.77lb
Boneless Cross Rib roast 2.99lb

* All buy 1 get 1 free
Ball Park Franks, Farmer John Bacon, Tyson Breaded Chicken Selections, Jimmy Deal Sausage Rolls, Oscar Meyer Bologna Hillshire Farms Smoked Sausage, Lloyd’s Ribs or Tubs, and Hebrew National Beef Franks

*Jazz apples .77lb
*Broccoli Crowns .88lb
Large Avocados 2 for 1.00
Red Bell peppers .99ea

Super Coupons in ad
*Oscar Meyer Wieners .99
Francisco rolls 1.99
Heinz catsup 1.69
*Mission flour tortillas .99
*Safeway Select Artisan Bread .99
*Pillsbury Brownie mix .79
TGI Fridays Party Appetizers 5.99
*Lucerne cream cheese .99

Cream Cheese Wraps (Breakfast on the go)
4 6-inch tortillas
4 oz. low-fat cream cheese
1 cup finely-grated carrot
1/2 cup finely-chopped apple
1/2 cup raisins
1/2 cup chopped walnuts
Spread about two tablespoons of cream cheese over each tortilla. Top with grated carrot, apple, raisins and walnuts, and wrap tightly. Cut in half or into bite-sized pieces. Serve immediately.
Makes 4 servings (1 wrap each).

HENRY'S
Henry’s Customer Appreciation with in ad coupon 10%off entire purchase of min 25.00
*Red or Green seedless grapes .88lb
*Mangos 2 for 1.00
*Roma tomatoes .88lb
*Navel oranges 2 lbs for 1.00
*Red or Green leaf lettuce .88ea
*Blackberries 2 for 3.00
*Pears .88lb
*Russet potatoes 5 lb bag .88ea

Butchers Best Deal
Natural super lean ground beef 2.99lb
Boneless New York steak 4.99lb
Boneless beef roast sale 2.99lb
Boneless chicken breast tenders 2.99lb
Boneless pork loin chops 2.99lb

ALBERTSONS

3 Day Big Game Coupons 2-5 to 2-7
Albertsons Chicken breasts .88lb Max pack limit 1
Lay’s potato chips 1.69
*piece golden fried chicken 4.99
Pepsi products 12 pack 4 for 9.00
7up or Sunkist 2.49 12 pack

Game Day List for Less
Pork loin baby back ribs 2.99lb
Lobster tails 4.99ea
Farm Fresh chicken wings 48oz 6.99
Gallo Salame 3.99
Ball Park beef franks 2 for 5.00
Knudsen sour cream 2 for 3.00Oscar Meyer bacon 2 for 3.00
Herdez salsa 2 for 3.00 limit 2

*Albertsons beef Rib Eye or New York steaks 3.77lb
Villa Roma Italian Sausage 2 for 6.00
*Lloyd’s BBQ or Chi Chi taco tubs buy 1 get 1 free
*Fresh Atlantic Salmon or Rainbow trout 3.99lb
* Bar S Bologna or franks .99 ea

Cantaloupe .69lb
Navel Oranges .99lb
Avocados 4 for 5.00
Red bell peppers .79ea
Green grapes 1.99lb
*Red seedless grapes .99lb

*General Mills or Albertsons cereal 1.88ea
(Cheerios, Cocoa Puffs, Golden Grahams, Total, etc)
*Cheez-Its or Albertsons pretzels 1.99 ea
Tide 40-64 loads 10.99

El Metate Market 19th& Placentia

*Pork Spareribs 1.29lb
*Tilapia fillet 1 lb bag 1.99
*Chicken legs meat .99lb
*7Bone roast 1.99lb
*Beef fajitas 2.49lb
*Pork stew meat 1.59lb
*Jennie-O turkey franks .39ea

*Oranges .16lb
*Avocados .19lb
*Italian squash .33lb
*Bananas .49lb
*Honey tangerines .89lb
*Red Delicious apples .39lb
*Jalapenos .39lb

Stater Bros

Shellfish for THE BIG GAME?
Cooked shrimp ring buy 1 get 1 free
Medium raw shrimp buy 1 get 1 free
Jumbo cooked shrimp buy 1 get 1 free
Lobster tail 6.99 ea
King Crab 6.98lb

* New York Steak 2.97lb Best Deal
*Chicken half breasts and thighs and drums .99lb
*Beef Back ribs .97lb
*Pork spare ribs 1.27lb
*St Louis style pork ribs 1.97lb
*Baby Back ribs 2.47lb
*Pork Country Style strips .99lb
Stater Bros ground beef in 3lb roll 1.99lb
Boneless pork loin chops 2.89lb
*Flap meat 3.99lb
*Pilgrims’ Pride Wings 2lb bag buy 1 get 1 free
*Jennie-O turkey store buy 1 get 1 free
*Farmer John wieners .99
*Villa Roma Italian sausage 1.99lb


*Red seedless grapes .99lb
*Jumbo Navel oranges .79lb
Fresh pineapple .99lb
Haas avocados 10 for 10.00
Cauliflower ,99lb
Italian squash .99lb
Green bell peppers .79 ea
*Braeburn apples 10 for 10.00

*Mission tortilla chips or dip 1.99ea
*Post cereals 2.49e

Bargain Basics

Bargain Hunting Basics is here to equip you, the intrepid bargain shopper, with the best possible information on the basics of bargain hunting. We believe not only on sharing with you where to bag a bargain but also how to discern when you are really getting a bargain or getting scammed. The more you know (knowledge is power), the more you can save.
Secret Insider Buzz Words
Smart shoppers pay attention to how stores and merchandisers run their businesses. The business of business is to make money… not be the consumer’s best friend. Most retailers walk the line between the two, banking on your busy, harried life to distract you from their marketing maneuvers. See if you recognize any of these.
Loss Leader
This is an item deliberately priced very low just to get you into the store. The terminology is not always accurate since the seller does not always take a loss. More than likely it’s a break-even situation.
Bait and Switch
Keep an eye out for “Bait and Switch”. These items are advertised at an extremely low price to lure you into the store. Once you arrive that particular advertised item is magically “sold out”. Chances are it may never have been there to begin with. You are then lead to a higher priced but similar item by the sale staff. This is much more deceptive than a “Loss Leader”, which is a legitimate item priced at a loss to lure you in the store. If you’re a sharp shopper you’ll start to spot combinations of the two practices. “limited amount”, “first 10 customers” and so on.
Off Branded Merchandise
These are items which are advertised at super discounts which were never intended to sell at the quoted original retail price. The super savings here are not true indication of value. Probably a cheap item at a cheap price. Tags usually say ” Values to”.
Hidden Models
Truly difficult for the consumer to out-maneuver are “special models”. These are different labeled models manufactured to make it impossible for the consumer to comparison shop merchandise from one store to another.
The only difference between models is usually cosmetic in nature. This practice is rampant in the mattress industry with the same mattresses by the same manufacturer having a dozen different names.
MAP
MAP is the Minimum Advertised Price that the manufacturer will allow the retailer to advertise the product for. It doesn’t mean the retailer must sell it for that price, just that they can’t advertise it for less. This adds to the difficulty in comparison shopping. Often the manufacturers will have an agreement with smaller retailers to help them pay for advertising costs in local newspapers. This helps the smaller guy compete with the bigger retail chain who can handle a larger overhead but makes it near impossible to compare prices without actually going into the store.
MSRP
Sometimes referred to as the List price, is the Manufacturers Suggested Retail Price. The price the manufacturer suggests the product to be sold for… It does not mean the product was ever sold at that price. It’s an offering price.
Unilateral Pricing
Ever seen the same appliance at a dozen different stores at the same price?
A loophole in federal law allows a manufacturer to tell a retailer that if they sell an item at below the Unilateral Price, that manufacturer will no longer ship them that product. This is a method of price control that is dangerous to consumers, since it allows the manufacturer to effectively set the prices for it’s products.
The retailer can discount the product if they want to but risk losing further shipments from that manufacturer. This puts a stranglehold on market competition. This practice is easily seen in large appliances, audio and video equipment, video games and other areas.
Private Labeling
Both major retailers and smaller upscale boutiques can have their own label. They often contract with the same companies that manufacturer for many other labels the only difference being that you can’t comparison shop. They all may be made of the same materials with the same level of workmanship but each “Private Label” may be priced differently depending on how valuable the brand or designer name put onto

The Crunchiest Pickle

Instead of swigging sour, or sweet bread and butter pickle juice, or dumping it down the drain, just add some fresh chopped cucumber and make the crunchiest pickle you will ever bite into. Waste not want not -- reuse that juice!
When I buy these hot-house cucumbers, they are so huge a salad cannot contain one. If you have a jar of pickle juice left over, just slice that leftover cucumber and let it soak overnight. These fresh tasting pickles will not last as long as regular ones, but they should last a week longer than normal, and maybe even into the following week.
The taste is light and fresh. They are even good on a burger, or as just a snack or side. They will not be as sour or sweet as you are used to, but you will not make such a sour face when you take a bite.
Directions
Slice fresh cucumber about 1/4 inch thin. Add to leftover pickle juice, either regular sour, or sweet bread and butter. Allow to soak overnight in the refrigerator. Will last a week or two stored in the fridge.

Grilled Cheese, Lightened Up

Who doesn’t love the ooey-gooey goodness of a grilled cheese sandwich? You can enjoy the scrumptious combo of toasted bread and melted cheese without throwing your healthy eating plan out the window.
Bread & Cheese
A typical grilled cheese can tip the scales at 700 calories per serving. When made with hefty amounts of cheese and butter, your sandwich’s saturated fat content skyrockets — not very heart-healthy!
Because the ingredients for this dish are minimal, you want them to be high quality and full of flavor (diet bread and fat-free cheese just won’t do!). Choose a whole-grain bread that has 110 calories or less per slice and match it up with a small amount — only 100 calories worth — of a really flavorful cheese such as Manchego, Swiss or goat cheese. Pre-sliced, low-fat cheeses usually have about 70 to 100 calories per slice — cheddar, Jarlsberg Lite, provolone or pepper jack are all yummy choices and as long as they’re low fat or part skim, you’ll still get the flavor.
Layering in the Flavor
Instead of just relying on cheese to bulk up your sandwich, add flavorful ingredients that are lower on the calorie scale. Spread on your favorite condiments and toss in just about any veggie you can think of or even a fruits such as green apple slices or a tart jam spread. You can also add in some hunger-fighting protein to keep your sandwich satisfying without the fat (though, yes, we know that is veering off from the classic).
Here are some winning combinations:
• Turkey, Swiss and sundried tomatoes on whole-wheat bread
• Low-fat cheddar, honey mustard and granny smith apple slices on multi-grain bread
• Goat cheese, tomato and baby spinach in a whole-wheat pita
• Part-skim mozzarella, basil and roasted red pepper on whole-wheat bread
• Manchego, arugula and olive tapenade on an English muffin
• Jarlsberg Lite, grilled chicken breast and BBQ sauce on potato bread
• Low-fat cheddar, salsa and spinach on multi-grain bread
Heating It Up
When it comes to grilling your sandwich, pass on the butter or oily griddle. Use a nonstick pan or panini press along with some nonstick cooking spray. The cheese will be melty and the bread toasty without adding in additional calories and fat from gobs of