http://www.bargainsla.com/blog Zannee's Blog en Suzanne O'Connor Copyright 2013 2013-06-17T18:48:45+00:00 Suzanne O'Connor http://www.bargainsla.com/blog/entry/weekend_bloopers/ http://www.bargainsla.com/blog/entry/weekend_bloopers/#When:18:48:45Z As adults we’re suppose to have learned how to be able to communicate effectively. Well, that didn’t happen as well as it should have this last weekend for a Fathers Day get together. First lesson…. Do not text to set up plans.  Only text after the plans are firm and you’ve talked to everyone involved. Old fashioned methods like talking the phone work the best when setting up plans with friends and family. You can hear verbal inflections, tone as well as get a better feel for a situation better than texting one another. How many bottles of Orange juice does any breakfast need! How important was that baseball game? Had phone calls happened first, instead of texting, a clearer picture would have been presented. Second lesson… Do not rely on the internet exclusively We got all excited when we found and bought discounted Groupon tickets for the Grammy Museum for Fathers Day.  Had we picked up the phone we would have found out that Dads get in FREE on Fathers Day. Same thing on Mothers Day… Moms get in FREE! Yup, spending money on something that costs nuthin…. is dumb! Fathers Day was still fabulous. Great friends, great breakfast and a lot of fun at the Grammy Museum. The Ringo Starr exhibit is terrific. Silly blunders amongst good friends are always overlooked. … But had we been paying better attention, we would have saved more money, had a longer get together and ended up with less OJ in our refrigerator. Lesson learned. Zannee's Tips, Entertainment, Local fun 2013-06-17T18:48:45+00:00 Suzanne O'Connor http://www.bargainsla.com/blog/entry/our_tight_budget_summer/ http://www.bargainsla.com/blog/entry/our_tight_budget_summer/#When:21:37:10Z This Summer we have some expected …and unexpected household maintenance and repair expenses. In order to afford these repairs without using credit or digging into savings, we have implemented some cost savings measures into every aspect of our lives. 1. Anything we can repair ourselves around the house is being done by us. -We will tear down our old fence in order to have our contractor put in a new one. We’ll also be chopping it up, storing it and using the old wood fencing for firewood the next few winters.   Cost savings $800 - We’ll be cleaning our own screens and windows this summer. (6 -8 hours of work)   Cost savings $150 -Cleaning, repairing and installing new bathroom pedestal sink.   (The free one we found on the street)   Labor Savings $200 - Repairing chipped window sills and repainting windows and sills ourselves   Labor savings $1000…. if we get them all done. 2. The “kid” is not going to Summer camp. At 17 she doesn’t have to go and can entertain herself. Savings $1000. 3. However, we are paying for our daughters daily dance classes. Since I still take dance class and she’s still underage, we are sharing a series of classes at a local studio. We can buy a lot more at a time and by buying in volume, save at least $50 a month. Expense is $330 … but we’re saving $150. 4. Our vacation plans are now kaput… but we are driving up north to visit family for a few days.   Cost $600. Savings $1000-$1500 5. We are eating in more often and eating out as little as possible. But when we do, we’ll eat at a more frugal, family restaurants, use coupons and also split meals. This week we saved $15 doing that on a $45 bill. Nice. 6. Both cars are being washed by us instead of at a car wash. (Family water fun in the summer)   Savings over the summer $80 7. We cut our wine consumption down to from 4 bottles a month to 2 bottle a month… Savings $30-$40 a month. We like having wine with dinner. But will drink water instead…. it’s better for you anyways. 8.Only one movie night out a month. We love seeing blockbuster movies over the Summer. But will be more choosey this year. Savings about $90. 9. We’ll cutting back on beach trips and when we do go, we’ll be taking public transport. Since we usually go 6-10 times every summer, between gas (from Glendale) and parking we should save $100 over the summer. 10. But the most difficult thing to cut…No sample or warehouse sale shopping for me till October 1   Savings should be around $300-$400. … if I can hold out. We may only save $200 if I can pass it up. We figure with these implementations, we should be able to save the extra $2800-$3000 we need to get our home projects and repairs done with digging into savings. With the amount of work we are doing ourselves, we may even learn some new skills and drop a few pounds. Wish us luck! Zannee's Tips, Dining, Entertainment, Home & Garden, Do it Yourself 2013-06-11T21:37:10+00:00 Suzanne O'Connor http://www.bargainsla.com/blog/entry/home_improvement_bargain_shopping/ http://www.bargainsla.com/blog/entry/home_improvement_bargain_shopping/#When:18:29:45Z Planning ahead and patience are necessary when you are looking for the best product and best deal on your home improvement project. Needing something immediately takes away choices and prevents you from shopping unusual, off the beaten track bargain resources. Case in point. We have two projects around the house that are constantly being put on the back bummer. Upgrading the bathroom and putting a pathway in from our driveway to our front door and around to the side of the house. After dropping $100,000 in upgrades when we first bought the home a few years, we have limited funds to do anymore work. We’re on a quest for the best deal on our do it yourself projects. Our 1926 home has a cute little bathroom that needs upgrading. Our curent sink is a modern pedestal, which doesn’t work well in a vintage bathroom. We looked at vanities, but the bathroom is small and a vanity would instigate tearing out old cabinets… increasing cost and not increasing cabinet space. Plus it would ruin the look of a vintage bathroom. So we settled on getting a new pedestal sink. Of course, the ones we liked were expensive. So we have an ongoing search on Craigs List to find a great buy. As luck would have it, we found a newer Kohler Memoirs pedestal sink sitting on the curb in our neighborhood. I’ve priced this model at $400-$600.  It was in perfect condition and included some nice faucets… an added bonus. We asked the homeowners if they were getting rid of it and if we could have it. They said, “Yes”! Free is the best bargain ever!  Our patience paid off. Our other project, a front and side yard pathway, is technically my “do it yourself“ project. But my indecision caused us to miss out on the best deal. At RER Demolition they had 50, 18” x 24” used cement pavers for….. are you ready…just 50 cents each! Super hard to find, I had priced them new at $10 each at The Stone Yard. But by the time I knew we wanted them, they were sold. Drat! Opportunity missed. Since we need between 20-30 pavers (at 70 lbs each), we also have to have them delivered adding another $80-$100 to our costs.  Again, another project put on the back burner. Our current project is a 60-foot fence. While we were out pricing fencing we came across some rectangular 18” x 24” cement pavers at Do It Yourself Center for $5.99 each. Their delivery fee was just $50. A savings of 40%! We are still fans of salvage to save money and the recycling of goods, so we will keep looking at RER Demotion and other salvage yards like Habitate For Humanity .... until we’re ready to start that project. But at least we know where we can go to save 40% when we’re ready. Hunting and patience does pay off. Bargain Buys, Zannee's Tips, Shopping Adventures, Home & Garden, Do it Yourself 2013-06-02T18:29:45+00:00 Suzanne O'Connor http://www.bargainsla.com/blog/entry/memorial_day_weekend_shopping/ http://www.bargainsla.com/blog/entry/memorial_day_weekend_shopping/#When:00:41:27Z We took it slow this past Holiday weekend. Lounged around a bit, shopped a bit, ate some amazing food and generally rested. After sleeping in till 9 am on Saturday, I took my daughter with me to Half Off Clothing in Los Feliz. I’ve been telling her about this hot spot for months now, but until you go, you won’t get what a great place this is. It’s like a daily Sample Sale! She wanted some summer tops. While she browsed around the store, I bee lined to the sale racks and found a great Johnny Was embroidered peasant top. Normally it retails at $220. Half Off usually sell it at $80, but now it was just $40!  I couldn’t believe it and snatched it up immediately! She found two super cute tops at $14.99 each instead of $38. Half Off Clothing Sunday, we stopped in at the Hotel Surplus Parking Lot Liquidation Sale. I wanted to look at the deals on new sleigh beds he had at $239 instead of $500 … alas the colors were black (very cool) or cherry, neither went with the furniture we already had. But I did walk out with a white Hotel Duvet cover for $10. Heavier than most duvets, new it would have retailed new at $150 or more.  I washed it and it came out perfect. Put it on my daughters down comforter under a quilt. Since it’s white, I’m using it to protect the comforter. Hubby also walked out with a used hotel office chair for $15. Had to dig around a bit to find a good one, but it was well worth it. Some incredible buys still there.  Ya gotta haunt this hot spot. Hotel Surplus On Monday, after I took a butt kicking Cardio Ballet Barre class, we all stuff ourselves with homemade Austrian Goulash at our neighbors. Still trying to get the recipe. Guess we’ll have to do an old fashioned American BBQ next weekend. Bargain Buys, Shopping Adventures, Fashion, Home & Garden 2013-05-29T00:41:27+00:00 Suzanne O'Connor http://www.bargainsla.com/blog/entry/best_slip_cover_is_now_the_cover_story/ http://www.bargainsla.com/blog/entry/best_slip_cover_is_now_the_cover_story/#When:21:08:48Z Staying on top of the every changing Southern California retail, gray market and wholesale industries isn’t easy. Good business come and go, some are bought up, morph into something completely different, close and then re-open, expand or sadly, close down for good. One business that has undergone some huge changes is The Best Slip Cover Company. Originally starting as a mom and pop business nearly 50 years ago that created high quality custom slipcovers, it slowly morphed into a family run custom furniture company that had a custom slip cover making side business.  Eventually, Best Slip Cover became nationally known as BSC. It was time to separate the 2 companies. So now the Slip Cover part of BSC is now a new division known as The Cover Story. Still run by the original owners, Joanne and Stewart, you’ll get the same high quality, custom slip covers made for you at a price that is still “a steal of a deal”. They have over 40, washable fabrics for you to choose from… or you can bring in your own. They still will cut the pattern at your home. You can read more about what they do here: TheCoverStoryOnline.com I’m just really happy this great bargain resource is still here! Can I hear an AMEN! Bargain Buys, Home & Garden, Inside Scoop 2013-05-24T21:08:48+00:00 Suzanne O'Connor http://www.bargainsla.com/blog/entry/second_looks/ http://www.bargainsla.com/blog/entry/second_looks/#When:20:10:15Z Many times I walk into an outlet or discounter and really don’t like what I find. I leave without letting them know I was even there. I may tell my husband about the place and why I didn’t like it, but you guys won’t read about it cause every business deserves a second look… or in my case, a second or even a third look. Small and large business are run by humans. Like the rest of us, they are flawed and can make bad choices or have events or circumstances effecting their business we know nothing about. I don’t need to rant or denounce them publicly. However, I will go back after 6 months and take a second look. Occasionally that second look can take awhile … like the case of Wilson Leather Outlet in Burbank. Originally, I reviewed them way back in 2000. It was a just “so so” outlet then.  Went back in 2006 and really hated it. At that time they carried all damaged product, so poor, that the items were not worth giving away. It took me over 5 years to go back…and I finally did this last week. Happily, it had changed a great deal for the better. Like people, business can change for the better. Kinda makes you feel hopeful, doesn’t it? So none of us should stick to old opinions without re-investigating first. Zannee's Tips, Shopping Adventures, Fashion 2013-05-20T20:10:15+00:00 Suzanne O'Connor http://www.bargainsla.com/blog/entry/planning_ahead/ http://www.bargainsla.com/blog/entry/planning_ahead/#When:23:51:50Z There are plenty of things I know nothing about. Building a fence is one of them. But, what I do know is how to do is read up on published information, ask real experts and talk to people who have been there, done that. So with our old fence starting to fall apart, we are getting busy now, gathering information and planning for the expense. Hubby and I have gotten contractor estimates as well starting to figure out how to do it ourselves… in case we have to.  Our optimum time frame is early Fall, if we can make the old fence last that long. The weather will be cooler and the expense would fit into our budget better. If we decide to do it ourselves, it will also give us a bit more time to learn as much as possible. We have to decide what type of fence would work best.  Iron, Vinyl, Resin or Wood…the aesthetics and costs will probably dictate that choice. How long do we want the fence to last… 10 years? 30 years? We have to price materials and labor costs. And most importantly since it’s a shared fence, we want to make sure our neighbor is cool with our choice. We’ve recently learned that our old rotted wood fence is 30 years old and made of cedar. Since we liked the old wood fence, we’ve been pricing and learning about wood fences. We’ve talked to our neighbors for input, contractors and managers at stores for their slant and we’re scouring the internet for information, tips and tricks. All this prep and research will not only help us get the job done right, it will also save us money. How much I don’t know yet. But I do know, fast decisions make expensive mistakes. Zannee's Tips, Shopping Adventures, Home & Garden, Consumer, Do it Yourself 2013-05-06T23:51:50+00:00 Suzanne O'Connor http://www.bargainsla.com/blog/entry/getting_fit_for_summer/ http://www.bargainsla.com/blog/entry/getting_fit_for_summer/#When:18:24:41Z In January I started taken Cardio Ballet Barre classes out at the Eagle Rock Cardio Barre. These were originally bought as a Groupon (10 classes for $55) back in November. These are kick ass workout classes based on dance technique. You will sweat, you will shake from your effort and you will get stronger…. Which is why I signed up for them. I wanted to be strong again. They are so good that I have stuck with ‘em, at $16 a pop twice a week. These last 2 months, I also have been combining them with serious hiking to gain even more strength. We’ve been hiking up to the Hollywood sign every weekend as well as hiking to the top the hills above Brand Park in Glendale. Anyone who has done either hike that knows they are not for wimps. Now that I am stronger, I weigh more with more muscle density. I wasn’t initially interested in dropping any weight, but now that I am stronger, a loss of 5 lbs would make a nice difference, especially for the summer. So I am cutting back on portion size and working out one more morning a week. That’s it. No radical diets, no calorie counting, just smaller portions with a bit more exercise. We’ll probably save money on groceries. I have a much bigger long term goal in mind with my workouts. But as in all things….. one small success, one small step at a time. Bargain Buys, Zannee's Tips, Health & Beauty 2013-04-30T18:24:41+00:00 Suzanne O'Connor http://www.bargainsla.com/blog/entry/maybe_what_you_need_is_what_you_have/ http://www.bargainsla.com/blog/entry/maybe_what_you_need_is_what_you_have/#When:23:38:27Z Every plan we had for fun this last weekend went kaput from one single decision…. We‘d been shopping for a new (old) china hutch for our breakfast room for several months. We had previously hit thrift, vintage and resale furniture stores, scoured Craigs List, gone to numerous Estate and garage sales. Our rustic pine cabinet worked, but blocked a needed window … and we didn’t love it. Friday I visited Rebound Consignment in Canoga Park. They had a terrific, English Hutch priced at $499…. a deal.  I took a picture and sent it to hubby who really liked it. We originally hadn’t wanted to spend more than $300, so he wanted to see it for himself before giving the OK. On Saturday, before we set off to see the hutch at Rebound, we sat in our living room having our morning coffee.  Hubby kept starting at our turn of the century, English Empire desk… a focal point of our living room. We had been using it to stash stereo / camera equipment and hadn’t been using the amazing cubbies and drawers in the secretary section. It looked great in the livingroom, but wasn’t being fully utilized. He suggested we move it into the breakfast room to replace the rustic pine hutch we’d been using as a bar and for glassware / serving pieces storage. The Empire desk was the right height and width… though a bit over dramatic for a breakfast area. But Hubby pointed out that we often use the breakfast nook as a third office, especially if we are working late nights. The Empire desk would work perfectly for that…. I couldn’t argue the point. This idea would also save us money and help us get rid of unnecessary furniture. But it also meant we had to re-organize almost every cabinet from the kitchen to the living room.  A massive task! So Saturday and Sunday instead of visiting sample and warehouse sales or getting any R & R, we dived into the chaotic, athletic event of re-organizing, moving furniture, cleaning out cabinets, hutches, the dining sideboard and buffet, as well as turning a collectibles bookcase into a glassware case. The Empire desk’s secretary section had to be cleaned out and refurbished (broken knobs and pieces) before it could be truly useful again. The breakfast room required re-wiring and the window had to be cleaned and greased to get it to work properly. Sunday night we both collapsed. Sore and tired, but satisfied. Our living room now has more space and now Batchelder Fireplace is the focal point again. Our breakfast room is more functional as both a breakfast dining area and a spare office, plus now we get a lovely breeze with a second working window. We saved $500 by not making an unnecessary purchase. We are now selling our rustic pine hutch on Craigs List. We’re asking $125. Bargain Buys, Zannee's Tips, Shopping Adventures, Home & Garden, Do it Yourself 2013-04-22T23:38:27+00:00 Suzanne O'Connor http://www.bargainsla.com/blog/entry/photo_printing/ http://www.bargainsla.com/blog/entry/photo_printing/#When:03:37:53Z Unexpected mistakes can happen anywhere. Even good businesses and good professionals can screw things up. That’s when good service really matters. I recently had to get new professional head shots for my daughter, “the actress”. As a teenager she has some complexion issues, and some arose on the day of the photo shoot. After viewing and picking what photos we wanted, a couple of them needed retouching. Once that was done by the photographer and viewing them on our computer monitor,  I submitted them to Reproductions for layout and printing. We’ve had several sets of pictures printed there. Even though they only see us once a year or so, they know us by name and always go out of their way to make sure we are happy with the results. This time, I did all the ordering via their website, since it saved me drive time and I could submit after hours. The proofs were sent back and again after viewing them on my computer monitor, I ok’d them through their website for mass printing. We got a phone call from Thomas at Reproductions the next morning who was concerned that the shots were a bit over touched up. Since he has met my daughter, he knows what she looks like and was concerned she looked a bit too “Hollywood-ized”. We asked him to stop the order and print us some proofs. Thomas was right. I had not noticed it on my computer screen and had he not taken an interest in making sure they were good shots, I would have ended up with a stack of headshots we couldn’t use and wasted a lot of money. I’m so grateful for his expert eye and follow through. Since this is L.A., there are a lot of places to go to get head shots printed. Most are priced about the same and do good work. But for me, it’s a real asset to have someone watching my back and looking out for our best interest. Thomas at Reproductions does just that. Reproductions 3499 Cahuenga Blvd. West Los Angeles, CA 90068 (323) 845-9595 Reproductions.com Zannee's Tips, Consumer 2013-04-16T03:37:53+00:00 Suzanne O'Connor http://www.bargainsla.com/blog/entry/back_pack_abuse/ http://www.bargainsla.com/blog/entry/back_pack_abuse/#When:20:33:33Z If you’ve got kids, you probably have had experiences with school backpacks. Over the years my daughter has had several. The last one was bought the summer before she started high school. We usually get a new one when the old one is too “dated” or ugly. But because we buy Jansport, I have never had to purchase a new back pack because the old one broke. My daughter really gives her Jansport backpack some abuse. She over stuffs it with books, binders, snacks, pens, erasers, and other accoutrements of school. It’s literally thrown everywhere. Under tables, in the hallways, on school steps, in the dirt. It is stepped on, used as a chair, used as a head rest and as a weapon on occasion. Her backpack also get rather disgusting with wads of chewed gum, melted lipstick and lip gloss mixed in with the pencil shavings. I would normally throw it in the wash to fix that.  But by high school, she was drawing all over the exterior with personalized messages and pictures which made it impossible for me to clean, lest we loose all the personalized writing ….. So this last March, the backpack had enough abuse and after 2 3/4 years, the zipper broke, sending my daughter into a “hissy “with the earth shaken, “How would she get along without it? After telling her to figure it out and refusing to buy her a new one, I sent the beat up, gross pack, back to Jansport for repair or replacement. A month later a brand new backpack arrives. I guess they decided the old pack had had enough abuse too. No questions, no problems…. Jansport just backs up what they sell.  How nice. Bargain Buys, Accessories 2013-04-08T20:33:33+00:00 Suzanne O'Connor http://www.bargainsla.com/blog/entry/santee_street/ http://www.bargainsla.com/blog/entry/santee_street/#When:21:24:56Z Sometimes researching outlets and discounters doesn’t go as planned. Friday I ventured downtown to research a hot spot for Prom Dress bargains… Noell. They reputed to sell for less over 30 designer labels for prom and special occasion including Sherri Hill, Terani Couture, Tony Bowls, Sue Wong and others for less… supposedly about 20%-35% less. The problem was there was a large crowd there already, with people waiting outside to get in, making researching difficult. I thought that was rather odd. So, I tried several other special occasion stores in the area and found they were all super busy. The other special occasion stores on Santee St were about same with variations of styles. But I couldn’t really get details out of any of the sale help and I got the sense that you needed to haggle a bit. The dresses have tags on them but no price, which means they can say it costs anything they want. I’m not sure if 20% off is worth haggling for. But you’ve got 3 stores within a block of each other so it could be worth the effort Noell, 1401 S. Santee St., Los Angeles 90015. Dulcci Vetan USA, 1336 S. Santee St., Los Angeles 90015 La Femme, 1312 Santee St., Los Angeles 90015 I did stop into a couple other stores. Khloe Collection (1334 S. Santee St). This importer / wholesaler of women’s Missy fashions has savings run 40%-70% off on some rather nice items A Crotched long peasant skirt was here at $29 instead of $60. Some fashion cardigans were $49 instead of $80.  A hand painted knit, colorful tunic dress was $40 instead of $90. Next door was Romance Apparel (1332 Santee St.). Pricing here is about 30%-65% off retail on better Missy clothing. They had a wall full of blouses and tops. But I was drawn to the Wool cape at $69 instead of $150. I also spotted a nice selection of rayon crepe skirts at $29 instead of $60. … and then there’s the Vertigo outlet which was so good, it gets it’s own review. Parking was easy this far south on Santee. There was lots of metered street parking available and lot parking too. Not like the craziness a block or so north. Shopping Adventures, Fashion 2013-04-01T21:24:56+00:00 Suzanne O'Connor http://www.bargainsla.com/blog/entry/sample_sale_or_trunk_show/ http://www.bargainsla.com/blog/entry/sample_sale_or_trunk_show/#When:17:24:07Z If you’re a fashionista, chances are you’ve heard of or attended a trunk show. If you’re a Bargainista you’ve probably attended a sample sale. The two are not the same and there are specific distinctions. Trunk shows are special presentations of a fashion line to promote the new line directly to vendors and/or the public before it is widely distributed. It’s for PR and to create a “buzz” about the line. Often there are discounts of 10%-20% off MSRP on anything you purchase…. But not always. It’s more of a fashion event than a sale and can have perks like appetizers and drinks as well as goodie bags. The benefits are you’re getting to see the line ahead of season, before most folks. You can save a smidge and well, they tend to be a lot of fun in a nice environment with music, appetizers, some exclusive items and inside scoop on the line. Generally items can be returned. Sample Sales are a different animal entirely…. Traditionally sample sales are sales of a fashion line offered in a “sample” size that were originally used in the showroom. Samples sales have gone way beyond their traditional beginnings into full stock liquidations or end of season sales. Discounts at sample sales are much steeper and should start at 40% and often are at 65%-85% off original retail. Samples Sales generally carry 1-3 different lines by the same manufacturer, stock is in season and end of season samples (limited sizing) and overproduction (full sizing). They can throw in seconds, irregulars and damaged items, as well. Usually held at fashion showrooms and warehouses, you can also find sample sales hosted by boutiques, salons and even restaurants. Many Sample Sales have no try ons rooms or areas. But you should try on everything, due to some irregular sizing that can show up at sample sales. So dressing according is recommended. There are no returns at sample sales and most prefer cash, some take credit cards. You also generally are on your own at Sample Sales. Don’t expect the star treatment. To prep for attending a sample sale you should be familiar with the line, have plenty of cash on hand, wear comfortable clothes/ shoes you can try on clothes easily with and eat before you go. A little prep can save you a lot of dough. No go shopping! Zannee's Tips, Fashion, Inside Scoop 2013-03-26T17:24:07+00:00 Kevin O'Connor http://www.bargainsla.com/blog/entry/cutting_the_cable_line_part_one/ http://www.bargainsla.com/blog/entry/cutting_the_cable_line_part_one/#When:22:06:33Z They are known as “cord cutters”, people who have opted to sever their cable connection. Some “cut the cord” because they do not like the monopoly of the cable companies. Some do it because they do not like the programming content and for some it’s just too expensive. 500 channels may seem a deal but what if you only watch 8…hmm. We fall into all three of the above. The following is a guide, not a step by step instruction. Results will depend on your input. We will currently save 1K/yr minimum so it’s worth it. Do not cancel cable until you are sure all the following articles are working to your satisfaction. Step 1 Hi Def Antenna You will need to get a high definition antenna to get your local channels live. You need line of sight to the broadcast towers…in our case it is Mt. Wilson. In general you point the antenna at the towers and then have your TV scan for channels. That’s it. This site will show you where to point the antenna. Initially we got 70 channels, all our local channels, PBS and others including foreign language channels. Our goal was to get Locals and PBS. Mission accomplished. Use TitanTV as your TV-guide to what’s playing on the additional channels in your area. Over the course of a year I have tried 5 different antennas. These two gave us the best results Terk HDTVa Indoor Amplified High-Definition Antenna works good, looks cool but takes up a lot of space and needs to be powered. About $40 at Amazon. Winegard Flatwave FL5000C worked in a room that the Terk didn’t do as well, very compact and works great. Just stuck it on the wall and it scanned perfectly. Currently our top pick. We picked ours up at Costco for $29. Step 2: Roku/Netflix/Hulu Buy a Roku box. Prices vary from 50-100 bucks. We opted for the 80 buck option. It is a streaming portal. It comes loaded with Netflix, Pandora, Vevo and more. In the top bar you can go to the channel store and browse for even more “appoved” channels that you can load to the box. The word “channel” is just a designation for a stream, for some of these channels contain several shows that can stream at once. Sign up for a Netflix account. Cost is $7.99/month. You get unlimited streaming of popular shows and movies. Hulu Plus is a streaming service like Netflix that offers hit TV shows and movies usually a few days after they air. Cost is also $7.99/month. Each has different benefits. Some people have both, some people have one or the other. You decide. Each has a free trial for you to test it and since there is no yearly contract you can cancel at any time. If you are an Amazon Prime member you can view the free Amazon Prime Instant Videos on Roku and there are thousands. Of course you can also download their pay per view Step 3: What Roku Doesn’t Tell You There are thousands of private Roku channels that people put out there. You browse those channels to find something you like. Covers all ratings. There will be an access code given. Go to your Roku account via computer and enter that code and that channel will then be entered into your Roku box. If you don’t remember password have them send you a new one and then change it Google “Roku Channels” or “Roku Private Channels” and you will find a ton of sites with channels that you can get for free. Here are some of the broader sites for channel codes streamfree.tv/apps/roku-private-channels/ hiddenrokuchannels.com/private-roku-channels/ You now know how to get free channels through the Roku Box and an HD antenna. In Cutting the Cable Line Part Two I will be discussing the AppleTV and the awesome stuff it can do. Kevin O’Connor Zannee's Tips, Electronics/Tech, Consumer, Do it Yourself 2013-03-24T22:06:33+00:00 Suzanne O'Connor http://www.bargainsla.com/blog/entry/cutting_cable/ http://www.bargainsla.com/blog/entry/cutting_cable/#When:22:12:52Z So, we did it. We told our cable TV provider Charter Cable to “take a hike’ and cut cable. No longer are we paying for channels we don’t watch or “surprise porn” on HBO or Max. No more paying for Spanish, Korean, Armenian, Japanese shows we don’t watch. We’re done with it. But wer’e actually getting more programs than we did before….for free! But the transition has not been easy. Figuring out where and how to get the shows we want to watch for free has been a technology learning curve. We are still in the process. But it can be done. The Cable companies are just hoping that people aren’t willing to go through the process of learning how to navigate new technology and will stick with what they know. But for the $900 a year we’re saving, we’re willing to learn. Now we actually have more channels and choices than we did when we paid for cable. Here’s how we did it. The Beginning: The First thing we did was buy a really good antenna so we could watch the local free stations, (2,4,5,7,9,11,13 and PBS). Getting the antenna set up where the stations didn’t digitally break up took a few days of trial and error. It isn’t perfect, but it’s free. You’ll need an antenna for each TV set. The Second thing we did was up grade our Roku box. If you haven’t tried out Roku yet, you’re in for a treat. This gave us access to dozens of channels and shows including, Spotify, Ted, Blockbuster, NBC news, Fox, Disney, Amazon instant video, Hulu plus, Netflix, Vudu, NBA Game Time, Plex, Pandora and a lot more. We’ve had Roku box for several years since we are Netflix subscribers and it’s well worth the investment. http://www.roku.com/ But that wasn’t enough. we wanted to be able to watch Downton Abbey, HBO’s Game of Thrones, The History Channel, Discovery as well as original films without having to wait a season. So hubby went to work researching other venues and doing a bit of “hacking”. He knew I wouldn’t accept the restrictions on what I could and could not watch. As the assigned household “tech” guy, he went to work. Here’s where changing over can get it a bit confusing and learning how systems work takes time. But I’ll let him tell his own experience in the next blog…. But suffice it to say at this point I have seen all the Academy Award films,  watched the 3rd season of Downton Abbey,  the History Channel’s “The Bible” and was able to watch Once Upon a TIme last show 1 hour after it aired. Go to Cutting the Cable Line Part 1 Zannee's Tips, Electronics/Tech, Consumer, Do it Yourself 2013-03-18T22:12:52+00:00 Suzanne O'Connor http://www.bargainsla.com/blog/entry/managing_temptation/ http://www.bargainsla.com/blog/entry/managing_temptation/#When:20:48:36Z I’m not sure how long this is gonna last, but we are taking the extra sugar out of our diet. This came about because we saw our teen daughter starting to eat way too many carbs. Too much sugar, too much bread, too much pasta, candy & ice cream. She doesn’t have a weight problem … yet. But we could see that she would later on in life if we left this unchecked. We eat rather well in our home. Lots of veggies, protein, fruit and lots of water. We don’t keep sodas in the house and we generally self regulate how many sweet treats we eat. But you could always find something sweet in our home… candy bars, cookies, brownies, ice cream. Keeping this stuff around made it harder for all of us to resist. So, knowing that these tasty treats aren’t good for you, I through them out, including the recently purchased chocolate ice cream as well as the granulated sugar. We are not buying any “white” bread any longer…. Even San Francisco Sour Dough…which I adore! Gone are the potato chips and the candy bars.  It just got to be too much,  tempting us to eat junk. The process will be slow. We still have a lot of carbohydrate items that need to be eaten or tossed. We will stock more fruit and vegetables for snacking. This doesn’t mean that we’ll never have ice cream or pie again. But it does mean, they will be extra special, more unusual items in our home. Zannee's Tips, Dining, Health & Beauty 2013-03-11T20:48:36+00:00 Suzanne O'Connor http://www.bargainsla.com/blog/entry/beware_of_the_deal/ http://www.bargainsla.com/blog/entry/beware_of_the_deal/#When:02:09:33Z Like many of you I have signed up for every “deal” website there is. Groupon, Living Social, Amazon Local and others. Many of them have merged, some have changed their names and some have quietly disappeared. I have bought some great buys through deal sites. But that said, I read all the small print and check to see what the real going rates are for the services that is being provided at a “deal”. Lately it seems that the real deals are fewer and fewer. The comparison prices have become way over inflated.  $137 for exterior window cleaning for $59 .... Really?!! I’ve had 2 quotes for my 18 windows at $70-$80… Not near $137. They’d clean both the inside and outside window, clean the screens and window sills. Plus I’ve actually seen the work and they do a good job. The problem is that these “deal” sites often take 50% of the revenue from the deals offered. At the end, leaving the business offering the deal with a hefty loss.  Most small business these days cannot absorb a loss, so they have to inflate the regular costs so they can break even. On top of that falsehood, some businesses cannot handle the large influx of new customers and end up not being able to full fill their end of the agreement. And some “deals” are just plan old “con” jobs. You must do your homework before you sign up. If a deal sounds too good to be true,…..be skeptical The other side of the problem is that many of us don’t use our “Deals” after we purchase them. So make sure this is something you really want and will use in the allotted time. My last “Deal” purchase was a series of Cardio Barre classes in Eagle Rock. I’m happily using them every week and when I run out, I will more than likely continue at the regular class price…..until I find another better deal. Zannee's Tips, Dining, Health & Beauty, Inside Scoop, Complaints & Ripoffs, Consumer 2013-03-05T02:09:33+00:00 Suzanne O'Connor http://www.bargainsla.com/blog/entry/resisting_a_deal/ http://www.bargainsla.com/blog/entry/resisting_a_deal/#When:20:33:07Z Like most of you, we have our list of things we want. Controlling urges is part of being an adult. As a bargain hunter, I like to pounce when I find something that’s perfect at a perfect price. But even with bargain basement pricing, sometimes we all got to resist. We thought an arbor for our yard would be really cool. Then, suddenly we wanted it real bad. We also want a new hutch for our breakfast nook even though the old one is just fine. Overnight this has become a need instead of a want. I of course found a couple through Craigs List and Rebound Furniture consignment at killer pricing. But after doing our taxes, it’s not a good idea to buy it right now. I‘ve always wanted a sleigh bed. I figured I get one when my beautiful brass bed got too old. So after cleaning and polishing the bed last week, I noticed all the dings, dents, and scratches that had accumulated over the last 18 years and decided I wanted a new sleigh bed…. yesterday. All that said, I have to remind myself that the perfect items will show up at the perfect price eventually and I can have them if I keep my eyes open, bargain hunt a bit and just relax.  Yeah, we could go out and find these items pretty fast at a great price now. But we’re opting to wait a bit to not stress out our budget and not use our credit cards. By using some patience and self-discipline we will eventually nab a better deal. Bargain Buys, Zannee's Tips, Home & Garden 2013-02-25T20:33:07+00:00 Suzanne O'Connor http://www.bargainsla.com/blog/entry/irritations/ http://www.bargainsla.com/blog/entry/irritations/#When:19:06:33Z Hmmm, I was under the weather this last weekend, so a few things aggravated me more than usual…. -Amazon Prime no longer gives Free shipping if your order is under $25…. Really? -Gasoline is going up to the point that it’s more than just irritating.. -The LA Times is now $1.65 to pick up during the week at the news stand. More money for less information…. Really?! But what really got my goat was turning on my TV set at 9pm Friday night to catch a movie and being assaulted with graphic pornography on 2 prime cable channels HBOZP and Max. Only OB’s should ever see anything that specific. Really at 9pm?  Kids and teens are up past 9 pm on weekends. So I started going through the channels to actually see what I was willing to pay for. HBO, DIY. History Channel, Fox News, CNN and a few others. But, there were not as many as I thought. We also all tried on Saturday night to not watch any TV…. and wouldn’t ya know it, we were all more productive. I read half of a book, my daughter practiced her piano and guitar and hubby researched how to restore our older windows. So now we are looking at cutting premium cable. At an additional 75 dollars every month for prime channels, we should be actively watching more than a few. I’d rather go out to the movies or dinner more often. To prepare, we bought a digital antenna so we can get the basic 7 channels which we are currently testing out. I’m also going through Roku (Hulu, Amazon Instant Video, and Netflix) to see what I can watch and /or purchase there as well as checking out websites for streaming news channels. The date we plan to cut the premium cable is 2/25…. after the Oscars. Just to be sure. We’ll see how it works out. But I’m sick of paying for services and products I am not interested in. Electronics/Tech, Entertainment, Complaints & Ripoffs, Consumer, Do it Yourself 2013-02-19T19:06:33+00:00 Suzanne O'Connor http://www.bargainsla.com/blog/entry/frugal_thoughtful_valentines_day_ideas/ http://www.bargainsla.com/blog/entry/frugal_thoughtful_valentines_day_ideas/#When:21:54:17Z OK…. you’ve just recovered from the holiday shopping marathon, it’s time for another swing at the shopping scene with Valentines Day looming ahead. Thankfully, you don’t have to squeeze your budget again to give a thoughtful Valentine present. Here are some frugal ideas. Ideas for All Romantics: - Instead of flowers, give a “live” flowering plant they can plant in their garden or patio. - Deliver one long stemmed, red rose everyday to their office for a week. Labor intensive… but a great way to get your point across! - Hide Valentines Day cards in places where “he” or “she” will find them.   Inside his favorite suit pocket, his briefcase, the top drawer of his desk or hidden in his lap top or iPad. - Memorize a Shakespeare sonnet (118 is a good standard) and deliver it at an appropriate moment. -Create a romantic dinner at home. Cook up a special menu, set an appropriate dining table and play soft music. Dress for the occasion. - Learn “I love you” in as many languages as you can. Write them down in personal notes and deliver them with gifts of scented soap, lotions and bath oils… -Make a romantic coupon books filled with massages, star gazing, wine tasting and other romantic IOU’s. - Weather permitting, go out for a picnic. Load up on delectable gourmet foods from Trader Joes or the Epicure Imports sale. Those Already Married or With Kids: - Give yourself the night off. Have the kids head to a friend’s or relative’s house for the night. Then create a romantic home cooked dinner rent a favorite     movie and snuggle up. -Guys, go with her to Victoria Secrets ( or any sexy lingerie shop) and help choose an alluring outfit. It will be “quality time” follow up with a nice meal       and …. -Surprise your loved one when they come home from work. Load up on dozens of candles from tapers to votives. Then light and set them around the house. When they arrive home from work, greet them with a glass of wine and the warm romantic glow. - Frame the lyrics to your wedding or special love song… or sing it! - Have your kids create their Valentines! Draw pictures of hearts, a bouquet or even a “best mom” ”best dad” and frame it. - If mom or dad is a chocoholic, a large hand-painted mug with sumptuous chocolate mix is a good bet. - Make a family Valentine event with chocolate fondue. Recipes on the FoodNetwork This is also great idea for kids, teens and their friends. The true art of romance is making your special someone feel special. It has nothing to do cost and has everything to do with making someone feel cared about. The little details, effort and thoughtfulness that go into your Valentine gift matter the most. Don’t forget to tell them how much you love them! Zannee's Tips, Entertainment, Do it Yourself 2013-02-05T21:54:17+00:00