Money Saving Tips: Deals and Steals By JJ Valdez
I know it’s very mean to say, but trust me when I say that some of the best deals are not from stores that have been around awhile, but rather from stores that are going out of business. It’s a terrible thing when a business goes broke and is forced to sell their merchandise for barely anything. But, one man’s ruined business is another man’s bargain hunt, and since 90 percent of businesses that start usually fail within the first year, there are a lot of bargains to be had. But more specifically, there is one place in general that has seen a rather high percentage of stores being run into the ground (especially clothing stores), and that place is the shops at Tanforan. A perfect example is Anchor Blue, which not too long ago announced that it was closing down. What followed were days in which their prices kept dropping from 15 percent off the tag price to as high as 75 percent of the tag price in a desperate attempt to sell whatever they still had in stock. Another perfect example is the suit store near Target in the upper level which hasn’t been getting business as of late, so in an attempt to try and get people to buy from them, they had deals like: buy a 350 dollar suit for 90 dollars, or buy five custom made belts for 10 dollars. Even I took advantage of their dwindling success by purchasing a 200 dollar silk vest for 80 dollars.But, I’m not encouraging readers to just look for stores that look like they are going to fail and take advantage of them – another strategy is to look for new stores as well. Another trend I’ve seen in the Tanforan Mall is that new stores are popping up left and right, often in the places where other stores had failed. And, what I’ve observed is that these new stores are offering great deals like 15 percent off, or “2 for 1” deals to attract new customers. These deals are nowhere as cheap as those stores who are going out of business, but they’re still good deals nonetheless.So, if you’re ever walking around Tanforan and see a store with absolutely no customers, then you can almost be sure that they will start lowering their prices to an insane level. And if they don’t, or you miss out on taking advantage of the situation at hand, then wait until another store takes their place and tries to get people to shop there by offering stellar discounts. And if the new businesses fail…well, then the cycle starts all over again.
Money Saving Tips: Deals and Steals By Jay Johnson
Taking my truck to a shop to get my oil changed can be pricey and time-consuming. So, recently I’ve decided to just buckle down and do it all myself. It only takes 20 minutes and saves me money for another day.If you aren’t willing to get a bit messy, I seriously suggest going to a local AutoZone or Kragen, and picking up one of their weekly sale papers. Every week they mostly have deals for oil, oil filters or most anything car-repair related.For example, this week AutoZone has an “oil change deal” going on. For just $12.99 you can get five quarts of oil and a free oil filter. And, changing your oil can be very easy too. For my truck, it’s as simple as draining the oil, changing the filter, and putting in the new oil. Some people’s vehicles may be a little different, but probably just as easy. So, if you’re looking to save some green-go get your hands dirty and change your own oil.
Money Saving Tips: ActivitiesBy: Antoinette Estigoy
We are very fortunate to have San Francisco in our backyard so to speak-close enough to easily take advantage of the city’s entertainment and cultural offerings. The nightlife is part of what defines the city, and it never falls short of providing new, fun and exciting things to partake in. My latest find includes the marriage of “nightlife” and the appreciation of science discovery. The California Academy of Sciences hosts what is called-NightLife, a 21+ event that takes place inside the actual museum, Thursday evenings from 6-10 pm. The entrance cost for the general public is $12, a reasonable price for live entertainment and music, access to the exhibits, and a variety of activities that vary each week. The upcoming event on Nov. 5 will feature music by DJ Helen and narrative magazine, and on Nov. 12, DJ Jeff Stallings, Evidence of Evolution, The Mambo Romero and Festival de las Ciencias.
To learn more about NightLife at the California Academy of Sciences, visit http://calacademy.org/events/nightlife.