Shopping Savings - Best and Worst Grocery Stores in America

 How do you grocery shop? Do you opt for self-checkout, drive-up, or take your time wandering the aisles for the best snacks? 

A new study by Solitaired shows shoppers just how long you can expect the line at your local grocery store to be, and how good a value you’re getting for the price. 

• Kroger stores appear the most often on our list of the Top 50 Grocery Stores with the Worst Lines, followed by King Soopers, and Sprouts Farmers Market.
• Sprouts Farmers Market appears the most often on our list of the Top 50 Grocery Stores with the Worst Food Quality, followed by Kroger.
• Raley's stores appear the most often on our list of the Top 50 Grocery Stores with the Worst Prices, followed by Foodie's Markets and Morton Williams Supermarkets.
• Trader Joe's makes up 90% of the best grocery stores in America.

You can read the full report here

Shopping Savings - Black Friday and Cyber Week at FSA Store and HSA Store

 Tis’ the season for great deals for online shoppers, and that includes the millions of people who are shopping with tax-free flexible spending account (FSA) and health savings account (HSA) funds! Early Black Friday deals are happening now and Cyber Week deals are right around the corner at FSA Store and HSA store. Here’s what your followers need to know:

• Cyber Week sale Nov. 26-30. Shoppers get 50% off select items.

• FSA Store and HSA Store carry over 2,500 items that are all considered qualified expenses for people enrolled in FSAs and HSAs. Shop high-demand health and wellness products like Supergoop Sunscreen, the Caring Mill by Aura Revive Gun, acne and skincare products, baby monitors and breast pumps, drug-free pain relief, migraine relief, and much more.

Bonus! For approximately 35 million people who are enrolled in FSAs, these deals can help them spend down their remaining FSA funds before the Dec. 31 use-it-or-lose-it deadline. 

Shopping Savings - Veriphy Skincare

 Veriphy Skincare is holding an exclusive Black Friday holiday sale, offering its innovative line of skincare products with sales of up to 75% off. Veriphy's simple 5-step process breaks down the essentials of skincare, each formulated with care and precision, also proving once and for all that consumers don’t need a multitude of products to stay beautiful. They simply need a few, core, yet potent tools in their beauty arsenal that actually work.

Veriphy Skincare is a women-led company focused on bringing you clean, effective, and innovative formulations, backed by science, a Clean, Natural, Vegan & Cruelty Free Skincare Brand

This special Black Friday holiday sale will run from November 20 -27, 2023 this Holiday Season.

Consumer Critique: Storyboards.io

 I recently had a chance to try out the site Storyboards.io. Although I had never heard of the site before, I was very happy with my experience.

The site sells square picture tiles that are 8x8 and thick, so they add a little different dimension compared to flat prints. The quality of the prints I received was on par with photo tiles that I've received from other companies, and the shipping and production time was reasonable.

The price was fantastic - they are constantly running promotions that keep the tile prices low (right now it's a 50% off promotion so pictures are just under $8 each). Other prices on other sites range from $4-15 (with various codes), so it really does depend on the particular promotion you're able to get at the time.

Lightweight foam photo tiles are nice - they're easy to hang, and easy to move around when you want to update the look of your wall. Our family prefers hanging photos to other art anyway, because it not only looks good but has happy memories attached too. I'm happy I found out about Storyboards.io to be able to use in the future when we need more photo tiles!

Shopping Savings: Bonnie & Pop

  Bonnie & Pop’s have an unbelievable selection of irresistible gourmet treats – decadent chocolates, sweet and salty, fruity and creamy, nutty and chewy - that make great gifts. If you order, your festive gift box or basket will be beautifully packaged, shipped, and delivered contact-free right to their door. You can pre-order as of NOV 1 for delivery by Christmas.

Even better? Enter promo code PRBONNIE at checkout and get $5 off your entire holiday order.

Here are just a few of the options available:

Chocolate-Popcorn Basket 3-in-1 Nutcracker Toy Soldier Tins: This eye-popping collection of indulgent chocolates, gourmet popcorn, and chocolate-covered pretzels and cookies comes in an exquisite and colorful gift box tins.

Chocolate Rows Gift Box: Row upon row of Belgian chocolate-covered delights in specialty flavors you won’t find anywhere else—from Sparkling Prosecco and Red Apple Caramel to Peppermint Shortbread and Cheesecake Truffle.

Extra Large Chocolate Gourmet Gift Basket: Gourmet treats for chocolate lovers including (but not limited to) English Toffees, Double Dark Silk Shells, chocolate-drenched Oreos and Grahams, and Pecan Meltaways.

Chocolate & Nuts Gourmet Gift Basket: A scrumptious selection of Candy Cane Cups, Holiday Peanut Trail Mix, Almond Toffee, and much more.

They’ll also help you out with customized corporate gifts. Follow them on Facebook or Instagram and be among the first to know about promotions and discounts.

Shopping Savings: Willow Pumps on Amazon Prime Day

  For Amazon Prime Day on October 11 & 12, Willow Go will be 15% off ($279) on Amazon and OneWillow.com. 

Shopping Savings: Perfect October Date Night in NYC

 More people name autumn as their favorite season than any other, and it’s not just the pumpkin spice lattes! Halloween is both sweet and scary, and we all love it like that. But now it’s even better! Blood Manor, New York’s premier haunted attraction, has partnered with our friends and neighbors to offer New Yorkers and out-of-towners the Perfect October Date Night in New York City!

Start your perfect sweet and scary date night at Candytopia, where sweet dreams really do come true! Wander through a dozen rooms in this interactive art installation that celebrates the vibrant colors and flavors of your favorite candies. If you have dreamed of nibbling your way through Candyland or scoring a Golden Ticket, you’ve come to the right place! Use the code SWEETHALLOWEEN to get a 15% discount (candytopia.com).

Then board the Hop On, Hop Off bus, the best rated bus tour and sightseeing package, to get a bird’s eye view of Manhattan (Candytopia is stop #3 on the downtown loop)! Pick your deal online and then use the code PERFECT DATE to get an additional 10% off! Enjoy your tour and then get off at Stop #9 in Tribeca for more Halloween fun (topviewnyc.com).

Check out Belle Reve for original cocktails and delicious American fare with a modern twist. This neighborhood favorite is celebrating Halloween in a big way, with a 10% discount on all food and beverage for Blood Manor guests! Just show your same-day ticket or email reservation to receive your discount… no reservations necessary (bellerevenyc.com).

Then it’s time for a scare… if you dare! Blood Manor and all its ghouls are waiting to frighten you half to death. Hold tight to your date’s hand so you don’t get carried off to The Crypt, Hannibal’s Hell, or any of the other terrifying possibilities that await. Is Blood Manor’s historic space truly haunted? Many a guest has claimed it to be so! Get 10% off the purchase price with the code PERFECTDATE (bloodmanor.com).

You may need a drink after that experience, so check out the beautiful Walker Hotel and either slip down into the cellar to enjoy the charming Saint Tuesday’s cocktail bar or check out the skyline views from the Happy Be rooftop bar. Both are offering holiday drink specials for Blood Manor guests (reservation recommended but necessary).

And if you are from out of town, or just looking to make date night truly special, the Walker Hotel is offering charming luxury in a quaint, well-appointed property in the heart of historic Tribeca. Blood Manor guests can book a king room for just $300 per night with the code BLOODMAN (walkerhotels.com/walker-hotel-tribeca)

Shopping Savings: LuxROCK

 $50 Off Sale 40-Square Foot LuxROCK Kit Now Through Christmas Available Online at Lowe's, The Home Depot, Daich Coatings

Casting Call: Kids Baking Championship

 

Calling All Cake Decorators!  The Food Network is searching for bakers between the ages of 8-13 to compete in the "Kids Baking Championship."

Apply Today - Get 20% Off Camp and Chance to Win a Sweetology Party

All applicants that apply through the Sweetology link will receive 20% off a week of Sweetology's Summer Cake Camp.

If chosen for the show, you will win an in-store or virtual party at Sweetology for 10 people.

Shopping Savings: Midnight Moon Cabins

Determined to finally give parents their own vacation from the ordinary every March, Midnight Moon Cabins in Big Bear, California, today introduces the first annual “Spring Break For Parents!” package enabling guests to enjoy 15% off the nightly rate for not only March but April as well when booking a stay for two or more nights. To partake of the package, simply visit www.midnightmooncabins.com, select one of three available Midnight Moon cabins and enter the coupon code springbreak at checkout.

Explains Sarah Salvatore, the entrepreneur, designer and mother of two behind all three stylishly modern yet authentically rustic (and dog-friendly!) Midnight Moon cabins, “It only seems right that parents finally get to enjoy a spring break of their own and what better way to spend some quality `just us’ time together than by escaping to the natural beauty and warmly inviting culture of Big Bear? That said, Midnight Moon Cabins and Big Bear in general are exceptionally family friendly, so anyone who signs up for our new `Spring Break For Parents!’ package is of course welcome to bring their kids along too!”

Shopping Savings: Smart Holiday Shopping Tips for This Season

 

We’ve all heard the adage, “work smart, not hard,” and this is never more true than when planning out your holiday shopping. The less planning you do, the more overwhelming holiday tasks will seem. But with a well thought-out plan, you can save money, time and your emotional well-being, letting you focus on fun with the family over the holiday season.

• Plan ahead

First, make a list of those you hope to buy gifts for – and edit!  Think of the time and money it will take to ship holiday gifts, and come up with creative gift ideas for those at a distance. Decide what gift you’d like to find for each recipient, and plan out the best way to track down the gift. Will you be online shopping, or shopping locally? Listing everything out will make it easier for you to prioritize gifts and tasks that are more time-sensitive, and eliminate those that may not arrive on time, or are unavailable.

 

 

• Track price changes for expensive items

Getting started early means you can track any price changes for expensive items on your gift list. Prices can fluctuate wildly over the holiday season, and with supply chain and manufacturing disruptions, you will want to be flexible. If you see a price shooting up on a particular brand, this gives you the time to find a more cost-effective brand in time for the holiday.

 

• Value quality over quantity

Arm-loads of gifts are a headache to buy, wrap, transport and clean up. This year, consider mapping out one high-quality gift per loved-one on your list, and forget about the piles of small, cheaply made gifts that break before the new year. Many companies who offer high-quality goods and customer service, also offer free gift wrapping and receipts for easy returns. By limiting yourself to quality gifts over quantity, you can vastly simplify your shopping tasks and save money on shipping and even wrapping.

 

• Map out your shopping beforehand and group your shopping trips

There will certainly be a few things you will want to buy locally, and this used to mean driving to the store. Consider making use of one of the new, convenient drive-thru or pick-up shopping options, or even opt for at-home delivery from local stores. If you do need to visit stores in person, carefully plan out your route to make it logical, and avoid retracing your steps. This means less money spent on gas, and less time spent in holiday traffic!

 

• Make sure to check shipping and delivery times

Online shopping is easy and fast, but if you forget to check the shipping and delivery times, you may find yourself without any gifts this holiday season. Look for domestic sellers with a Shipping warehouse in your area. This will ensure that your shipping is both fast, and eco-friendly, without the need to ship goods over long distances.

 

• When shopping online, check the different payment options 

With so many new Digital payment trends available, it’s important to choose the most cost-effective one for you. Carefully read any small print, and look at reviews to ensure other customers are loving their experience. Many online stores are making payment easier by offering a range of options including the usual suspects like debit and credit, and newer methods like Apple Pay or even a direct bank transfer. Be careful with long-term payment options, and be sure to look at any interest charges that might sneak up and surprise you during the holiday.

 

• Try to shop alone and avoid the weekends 

Only 29% of shoppers say they spend more when they shop alone – so go shopping alone! Weekends are the busiest time for holiday shopping, and also come with traffic, lines and crowds. Solo shoppers are much more likely to get in and out of stores quickly, without any impulse purchases. Space out your shopping trips over the week, and keep them as short and sweet as possible.

 

• Considering buying experiences–not just stuff

This holiday season, consider giving loved ones the one thing they couldn’t get over the last year – a fun and exciting experience. Book a night away with friends, or send your nieces and nephews ziplining for a day!  Even a simple hike and surprise picnic will be a gift to remember for those in your life – and you’ll get the time you need to catch up and relax with those you love at the same time!

 

Don’t let the excitement of the holidays get in the way of your budgeting and your peace of mind. Start planning now, to ensure you get everything you need in a timely manner. Reduce your holiday stress this year, by shopping smart, not hard, and don’t forget to spoil yourself a little this year – you deserve it!

List of Stores Closed on Thanksgiving Day

 

Instead of returning to open doors on Thanksgiving, many retailers are holding the line and announcing they’ll stay closed on Turkey Day (Nov. 25 this year). And that’s the right move, 68% of U.S. shoppers say stores should be closed on Thanksgiving, according to RetailMeNot’s 2021 holiday survey. See which stores below that will remain shuttered on Thanksgiving Day 2021 from RetailMeNot.

Belk Belk confirmed via its Black Friday ad on Nov. 1 that it will stay closed on Thanksgiving Day (although deals will be available online) and will reopen on Black Friday at 7 a.m. Belk’s Black Friday deals start even earlier, though, on Nov. 19 (and run through Nov. 27). Best Buy Best Buy announced back in June it would be closed on Thanksgiving. While it hasn’t announced its Black Friday opening time, it has revealed that it will begin its Black Friday sale a week before the actual day — on Nov. 19. It will also be launching early deals throughout November. BJ’s Wholesale Club BJ’s will stay closed on Thanksgiving for the 15th year in a row, according to an Oct. 12 press release. The chain has also confirmed its Black Friday opening time: 7 a.m. In-store shopping will include a “treasure-hunt experience” on Nov. 26, per the press release. But early Black Friday deals will start much sooner, with savings starting Nov. 4 and running through Nov. 29. Those deals will be shoppable here when they go live. Costco No surprises here. Costco has always stayed closed on Thanksgiving, even prior to COVID-19. It’s also one of the only major retailers that close on other federal holidays like New Year’s Day and Labor Day. Dick’s Sporting Goods Long a member of the Open on Thanksgiving club, Dick’s Sporting Goods closed for Thanksgiving 2020 and announced back in February it would close stores and distribution centers for Thanksgiving 2021. Stores will open back up for Black Friday, but no hours have been announced. JCPenney In years past, JCPenney used to be one of the earliest to open on Thanksgiving (as early as 2 p.m.). But stores stayed closed in 2020, and JCPenney has confirmed it will be closed once again on Thanksgiving for 2021. Stores will re-open at 5 a.m. for Black Friday shoppers. Kohl’s Kohl’s will be closed on Thanksgiving 2021, the retailer confirmed in a press release back in June. But it promises online deals on Kohl’s.com and via the Kohl’s app. Macy’s Macy’s will be closed on Thanksgiving, the retailer announced in an Oct. 25 press release. It also announced its Black Friday store hours — 6 a.m. to 11:59 p.m. For those who want to shop early, Macy’s will kick off select Black Friday deals on Nov. 3, with all deals going live online Nov. 23 to 27. REI The outdoor and sporting goods store will be closed on Thanksgiving AND Black Friday this year. That’s typical for REI — it’s remained closed on both days for seven years in a row (while still paying its employees) and encourages shoppers to #OptOutside instead. Target Target was the first retailer to officially confirm (back in January) that it will remain closed on Thanksgiving 2021. Its reasoning? Customers preferred it, according to its press release confirming the closure. Walmart Walmart’s Black Friday sale is one of the most anticipated every year. But stores won’t be open on Thanksgiving in 2021. Walmart announced in June that all its stores will be closed on Nov. 25 as a thank-you to its associates. Expect deals to be shoppable online on Turkey Day, however. Walmart also shared that it is going to be offering some early Black Friday sales throughout, November, with deals dropping in stores at 5 a.m. on Nov. 5 and 12. Sam’s Club Sam’s Club will be closed on Thanksgiving (that’s nothing new — it stayed closed on Turkey Day even before the pandemic). On Black Friday, it will keep its regular hours, opening at 10 a.m. for regular soppers and at 8 a.m. for Plus members. However, Black Friday deals (Sam’s Club calls them Thankssavings deals) will be live online on Thanksgiving. Simon Malls Simon Properties, which owns 168 malls and outlets in the U.S., announced on Oct. 8 it would keep all its domestic properties closed on Thanksgiving Day 2021. Properties will open back up for Black Friday. Department stores attached to malls (think Macy’s), can do their own thing, as they generally have their own exterior entrances. However, stores inside the closed malls will remain closed.

Stores Open on Thanksgiving 2021 While we expect most retailers to be closed on Thanksgiving this year, a few are traditionally open every year and stayed open on Thanksgiving Day 2020 — though some operated at reduced hours. While they might not be offering doorbusters on Thanksgiving, you can expect the following to be open for pharmacy needs, groceries and more: Albertsons Bass Pro Shops (was open last year on Thanksgiving) Big Lots CVS Cabela’s (was open last year on Thanksgiving) Dollar General Family Dollar Giant Harris Teeter HEB Hy-Vee Kroger Meijer Rite Aid Safeway Sprouts Farmers Market Starbucks Walgreens Wegmans Whole Foods Why Are Stores Closing on Thanksgiving This Year? A variety of factors are compelling stores to remain closed. First off, with the pandemic still an issue, encouraging shoppers to cram into stores on a national holiday (especially a holiday associated with family) simply isn’t a good look — or a safe move. Second, the retail industry and its employees are feeling the full effect of this year’s ongoing worker shortages. Many of the stores remaining closed are citing “giving their employees a day off” as the reason for their decision to close their doors on Turkey Day. Finally, retailers don’t have much to lose (except maybe some hype) by closing on Thanksgiving. Last year, with the pandemic in full swing, Thanksgiving online spending broke records. If retailers can keep popular items in stock this year, shoppers will likely be more than happy to shop online on Turkey Day.

Shopping Savings: Holiday Toy Trends

With online sales booming due to the pandemic, Couponhunt.org, the top place for hand-selected coupons and deals from top retailers, has predicted the most popular toys consumers will be gifting this 2021 holiday season. 

It seems as though the pandemic has caused traditional toys to make a comeback, so you can break out those board games and puzzles and take a break from screen time. "This year we’ve seen a huge surge in the popularity of traditional toys and games that can be enjoyed by the whole family," says Rachael Larkman, Toy Buyer at John Lewis. "For example, sales of construction toys and puzzles such as Lego have risen 50% in the last 12 months, and we predict this trend will continue for Christmas 2021."

Since we haven't been able to visit movie theatres, we are nostalgic to whip out some popcorn and watch some break out films. "Some of the top toy trends we’re seeing for 2021 are those tied into films, with the lack of new releases last year meaning we saw very little along these lines in 2020," says Peter Jenkinson, AKA "The 'Toyologist," a UK-leading toy expert who regularly features on popular television programmes. "This year, we’ll have a new Ghostbuster film, Paw Patrol hitting the big screen and a Top Gun movie, too."

What's the best way to shop while saving for stocking stuffer season? Everyone loves a great deal and in order to save money at check out, CouponHunt.org offers verified coupons that allow for more savings and better results. Spokesperson Craig Anderson says, "Lots of coupon sites don't do a good job of validating that the coupons work, which is why we developed CouponHunt.org, because we hand pick coupons that actually work.”  Below are their top gift predictions so snag yours while you can!

1. Scalextric Batman vs Superman
2. Lego Elf Clubhouse
3. John Lewis FSC Wooden My 1st Train Set
4. Space Puzzle Ravensburger
5. John Lewis Waitrose Supermarket
6. Gravi Pro Starter Extreme
7. Kaloo My first Doll
8. Harry Potter Games Compendium
9. Soft Cuddly Friends - Hoppie Rabbit
10. Secret Garden book

You can learn more in this interview.

How can consumers make sure they don't miss out on getting the toys they want for gifts?

Good old google alerts- if there is a gift you or your kids are vying for this holiday season, set up your google alerts for the keywords on the wish list item. Check popular gifting sites, coupon sites, and of course online major retailers always stock the popular gifts.

What makes classic toys such great gifts for kids? 

Classic toys are always great because kids can learn. Education is so important growing up and kids are consumed with screens these days. Classic toys inspire creativity and use of the brain.

What are some ways families can get gifts on a budget?

Coupon sites are always your best bets. Also, there are brands that after gift sets and gift boxes at a much lower price so there is something for each member of the family. 

Black Friday sales always offer slashed prices as well.

What sets Coupon Hunt apart from other sites?

 CouponHunt.org offers verified coupons that allow for more savings and better results. Lots of coupon sites don't do a good job of validating that the coupons work, which is why we developed CouponHunt.org, because we hand pick coupons that actually work.