Zannee’s Blog at BargainsLA.com

Like many of you, we are rethinking everything we do.

In tough economic we all should rethink what we are doing. How we are doing it. We are re-thinking our savings and investments. Is it better to have a savings, CD or invest in the market, Is this the best time to invest in real estate or wait a little longer. More than anything we are keeping our eyes open, paying attention, reading and learning as much as we can and playing it a little safer than normal.

Web dude and I are a fearless couple. We are still going out to dinner once a week. We are still planning ahead to shop and pounce on great deals at all of the Sample and Warehouse Sales. We are still purchasing technology for our business. The two big changes since the tides have turned are that our credit cards are paid off and back in the safe deposit box and we are not going to buy a new car. The 2001 Subaru and old Honda will have to go another year.  We are living on what we earn.

Though we are sitting a bit tighter, we are doing what we did before… preparing for the re-launching of BargainsLA.com this winter and trying to make sure we have most pertinent money saving shopping information, and are as content rich as we can be. If times get worse or if times get better, we need to be the best we can be.

I like a nice glass of wine at the end of the day to relax and unwind. Though I am not against “two-buck chuck” and have enjoyed many glasses of it, I like trying other faire as long as its tasty and well priced. I try to keep my wine purchase at under $12 a bottle. I have had much more expensive wines that didn’t match up to the moderately priced ones.

I have quite a few wine places near me to peruse for tasty wines. Trader Joes gives written reviews and descriptions with many of it’s wines, most are extremely well priced. But I have occasionally picked up a bottle that didn’t make it past the first glass.

But, I have done extremely well of, at all places… Ralphs. Yeah, as a whole it’s an overpriced, over the top market. But it does have its charms. When I want a bottle of wine, it’s convenient with a decent selection and these little tags that tell you what kind of wine it is and if it’s an award winner. So I look for the well-priced, award winning wines (awarded a gold medal) that have the highest price reduction and have done pretty well.

I do not have a Bev Mo near me, so my best options are Trader Joes or Ralphs. Oddly enough, I have done better at Ralphs.

Okay I didn’t plan on going shopping today. I mostly wanted to see the LF staff and management (They are so neat!) and the Thursday Friends and Family sale was a great way to say hi. After arriving I had a good hour long visit with Steve, Marsha, Dee, Lauren and of course the ever brilliant Laurie Furst.

My girlfriend Lorilei also showed up and had suffered thru the worst traffic (405 Fwy closed) ever to shop the sale  I spent a good 40 minutes helping her edit down her bags full of stuff to a workable wardrobe assortment.

Now I had been there over an hour and hadn’t shopped. But once I got started…. Look out! I always start in the boutique room with the highest end duds. I scavenged thru picking out a coat ($38, retail $300) and trying on a ton of crop leather jackets ($50, retail $380). I moved onto the pants ($12), raincoats, jackets ($24), tees ($8), cardigans ($10) and sweaters ($18), long skirts ($8) and the cutest little dresses you’ve ever seen ($12).

I kept myself in check and didn’t go overboard. At the end of three try on & editing sessions I ended up with a rather cool coat, 3 tees, 3 scarves for presents, 2 bra tops and a dress for $110. A very fair haul.

The LF Warehouse Sale is so much fun. I only wish they had more mirrors in the dressing room. I am going back Saturday to take the kid and let her run amuck…. I gave her a $100 shopping spree at the LF Warehouse sale for a birthday present. Hopefully I won’t give in and will stay on budget. But really, where else can you get a $1000 worth of wardrobe for $100.

This sale is way to good to miss!

LF Warehouse  Sale
10/24(10am-6pm)-10/25(7am-3pm).
5333 McConnell Ave., Los Angeles 90066.
Cash/CC only

405-Jefferson –go west to McConnell, R- at the end of a cul-de-sac.