LL Bean

LL Bean is running a 20% OFF sale on selected summer items, and FREE shipping on ALL purchases for email subscribers! This sale ends TONIGHT at MIDNIGHT EST! Check it out HERE!

This is a great chance to grab some LL Bean BACKPACKS for back-to-school and take advantage of the FREE SHIPPING! The great thing about LL Bean backpacks is that they are extremely durable, AND if they ever rip/tear/break, LL Bean will replace the entire backpack for FREE! (If you don't live near an LL Bean location, I think shipping charges may apply for exchanges, but that's it!) This way, you can save money over the next few years on backpack purchases, as these have such a long life and if they ever DO break you can just exchange them for a new one.

So, a $30 purchase will give you a backpack that your child can use throughout all of their school-years... rather than spending $20 every September for a new one each year. How fun!

Do the math: Let's say your child is going into Kindergarten and you spend $20 for a backpack every year for the next 13 years. Over the course of their schooling years you will spend at least $260 on backpacks (that is assuming you don't have to replace them mid-year due of damages). BUT if you buy a $30 LL Bean backpack, and replace it for FREE if it breaks, you save yourself $230 in the long-run. Not too shabby at all! If you have 4 kids, you'll save yourself almost $1,000. NICE!

Don't forget about the Cash-Back Bonus Savings!

UPromise participants earn even MORE savings with an extra 2% cash back!!

The Childrens Place -- Summer Sale

The Childrens Place is currently running a great sale to closeout their summer inventory. Take the opportunity to stock up on next summer's shorts! Their summer line of polos and tees also make great additions to your back-to-school wardrobes!

Also, if you use coupon code (JULY2010A) you will receive an additional 20% off each item!

Here's a few good grabs...


Girls:

• Matchable tees/tanks: Regular ($6.50); Sale/Coupon: ($2.40)
• Jean/Pocket Shorts: Regular ($12.50-$19.50); Sale/Coupon: ($2.40)

Boys:

• Polo Shirts: Regular ($12.50); Sale/Coupon: ($4.00)
• Cotton Shorts: Regular ($6.50); Sale/Coupon: ($2.40)

Toddler Girls:

• Printed Tees: Regular ($7.50-$12.50); Sale/Coupon: ($1.60)
• Matchable Tees/Tanks/Shorts: Regular ($6.50-$9.50); Sale/Coupon: ($2.40)
• Shorts/Capris/Shirts: Regular ($9.50); Sale/Coupon: ($3.20)
  

Toddler Boys:

• Matchable tees/tanks: Regular ($6.50); Sale/Coupon ($2.40)
  
• Cargo Shorts: Regular $12.50); Sale/Coupon: ($2.40)
• Polo Shirts: Regular ($10.50); Sale/Coupon: ($3.20)

There are definitely deals to be had, here! Also, if you have a Upromise account [What's UPromise??? More to come on that one, later!], your purchase will qualify for an additional 3% cash back!

Summer Closeouts

With new lines of fall and "back to school" clothing due to hit the shelves in a couple weeks, many stores will be marking down their summer apparel in an attempt to make room for the new goods. Take full advantage of these markdowns, and use them to stock up for next year!

It's a pretty reasonable rule of thumb to assume that your kids are going to be at the next size up for the following year. So, if your child is in a 4T right now, I would gather together size 5T's for next summer.

Here's an example of how I made out last week on some of those "Summer Closeouts" at Kohls.com (just to name a few samples):

• JumpingBeans CottonShorts: Original($12.00); MY COST ($3.24)
• JumpingBeans CargoShorts: Original($12.00); MY COST ($2.16)
• JumpingBeans Tees: Original($12.00); MY COST($2.16)
• UrbanPipeline Polos: Original($20.00); MY COST ($5.10)
• MUDD Jeans Co. Tee: Original($22.00); MY COST ($3.74)

I did purchase multiples of these items whenever a different color option was offered. Some of the tops will be worn this fall for back-to-school, and some are the next size up so that the kids can wear them next summer. ALL of these items were found in the "Clearance" section!

In addition to the markdowns, I put in a coupon code (sorry, didn't write it down!) which discounted my shopping cart by an additional 15% -- this discount is reflected in "MY COST" above.

TOTAL SAVINGS: 82%!!

And of course, through the Bank of America Add-it-Up program I received an additional 4% cash back from this transaction!

Tomorrow morning the Sunday ads come out, and I'm sure a few more stores will be starting their summer blow-out sales! Check the circulars, and rummage through those clearance sections!

Back-to-school SHOES

If you are a Bank of America card holder (both credit AND debit cards qualify for this), have you signed up for their Add It Up program? If not, you SHOULD!

Right now, Bank of America cardholders are eligible to earn 15% CASH BACK on purchases made at Shoes.com -- no that's not a type-o, that really says 15%!

When you couple the 15% cash back, with the 20% off promo code (SHOEDEAL), that leads to a pretty awesome net discount on all regular, sale, and clearance items! OH -- did I mention, they have FREE SHIPPING?

Here's the deal that I got today:

• I purchased 3 pairs of good athletic shoes totaling $ 115.59 (before discounts).
• Using coupon code (SHOEDEAL) to take 20% off, brought the new total to $92.47 (savings of $23.12).
• THEN, factor in the 15% Bank of America cash back and the new total is: $78.60

That's a net cost of $26.20 for brand-new, high quality athletic shoes. AWESOME!

For approximately the same amount of money that I would have spent at Target buying cheapo rinky-dink shoes that the kids will destroy quickly (don't get me wrong, I LOVE Target, but their children's shoes just do not wear well), I was able to get a couple pairs of nicer, longer lasting and more durable shoes. Hello?????

Oh, did I mention -- FREE SHIPPING?

(AND remember, if your kids grow out of a GOOD pair of shoes quickly, you can always consign them and make another couple extra bucks!)

That's all for now, happy saving!!!