Cheap and Cheerful Chatter: The Uniform Lowdown

The first day of school may still seem far away but it is already time to scan the deals on school uniform items. There are some good discounts out there so I decided to compile them for your comparison shopping purposes. I know you're excited!

OLD NAVY
Boys: Pants 2 for $25
Shorts 2 for $20
Oxford Shirts 2 for $20
Short Sleeved Polos 2 for $15

Girls: Same prices as boys on pants, shorts, and polos
Jumpers 2 for $25
Cable Knit cardigans $15
Free Shipping on orders of $75 or more before July 29th

GAP
Boys: Pants 2 for $39
Shorts $16.50
Short Sleeved Polos 2 for $25
Long Sleeved Polos 2 for $30

Girls: Same prices on pants, shorts, and polos
Jumpers $24.50
Cable Knit Cardigan $24.50
Skirt $19.50
Also, 30% off on all backpacks and lunch bags

TARGET
Boys: Pants $14.99
Shorts $11.99
Oxford Shirt $9.99
Short Sleeved Polos $7.99
Long Sleeved Polos $9.99

Girls: Same prices on pants, shorts, and polos
Jumpers $14.99
Skort/skirt $12.99
Sweater $12.99
Free Shipping on orders over $50

GYMBOREE
Boys: Pants $19.75
Shorts $16.75
Oxford Shirt $19.75
Short Sleeved Polos $12.75
Long Sleeved Polos $14.75

Girls: Same prices on polos and shorts
Pants $22.75
Jumpers $28.75
Sweaters $28.75
Plus, it is Gymbuck redemption time so you could get 50% off!

CHILDREN'S PLACE
Boys: Pants $14.50
Shorts $12.50
Polos, both short sleeved and long sleeved, 2 for $18

Girls: Same price for pants and shorts
Short Sleeved Polos $9.50
Long Sleeved Polos $10.50
Blouses $10.50
Skirts $12.50
Jumpers $16.50
Plus, all backpacks are on sale for $10 and $5 shipping

LAND'S END
Boys: Pants $22.50
Shorts $9.99
Oxford Shirt $19.50
Short Sleeved Polos $12.40
Long Sleeved Polos $14.00

Girls: Same prices on pants, shorts, and polos
Skirts $17.50
Sweaters $24.50
Free shipping with catalog code; some items only on sale until July 20

My verdict: If you are looking for an oxford shirt that will last the entire school year, order a bunch from Land's End. Children's Place shorts are another great bet; my son gets a lot of wear out of his. And for $7.99, get a stack of Cherokee polos from Target! Happy Shopping.

Please add your uniform shopping tips and tricks in the comments section!

Beg, Borrow, Steal: Coupon Swap

It's great seeing glossy coupons for great deals fill your mailbox. I get so many coupons I can't use and always try to get them into the hands of a shopper who can capitalize on the savings.

At the moment, I've got three coupons up for grabs! Leave me a comment here and I can get the coupon in the mail, direct to your doorstep.

Birthday Express: $30 off an order of $150, $20 an order of $100, $10 off an order of $50 or $5 off a $25 order. I've used the BirthdayExpress.com website in the past and the prices are already on the low end and the shipping is super fast. Expires August 7, 2009

Target: $5 off a Cheerokee school uniform purchase of $30 or more, $1 off Hanes for Kids, $5 off school supplies over $25 (except for backpacks and calculators). Expires on August 24

Bed, Bath, and Beyond: $10 off an in store purchase of $30 or more, Expires August 24

TGIF and Happy Shopping!

Favorite Things: Custom Photo Board Books

Check out this great site with custom photo board books lovingly designed and produced by a friend who lives here in sunny Sacramento. And, if you happen, to live in Alaska, Idaho, Mississippi, North Dakota, Nevada, or West Virginia, you may be able to get your hands on a free book. Tell her I sent you!

Deal of the Day: Piperlime Sneakers

All regularly priced sneakers are 20% off today only on Piperlime.com. If you are looking ahead to back-to-school, you might find some good deals today. Or maybe you need a new pair of Converse or some Privo slip-ons for yourself? As always on Piperlime, there is no charge for shipping as well as free returns by mail.

Cheap and Cheerful Cities: Sacramento

Here at Cheap and Cheerful we firmly believe that there are always great bargains right in your own backyard. We "shop local" as much as we can and love supporting small business owners. Over the course of the next few months, we'd love to hear about the cheap and cheerful highlights of the cities where you, our faithful readers, live. Please feel free to send us an email (jennifer.g.ferrara@gmail.com) about your favorite places to find great merchandise at great prices in your hometown. We can't wait to hear from you!

For today, I present three favorite places in my town -- Sacramento, CA. Happy shopping to our local readers!

Pulp Papery, at 3020 H Street, is having a fabulous 50% off everything in the store sale this weekend. The sale runs from 10 am to 5 pm on Saturday and Sunday, July 18th and 19th. You can stock up on wrapping paper, holiday cards, and more! They also have a fanstatic assortment of invitations and birthday cards.

William Glen, located at 2651 El Paseo Lane, is your one stop shopping destination for fabulous home and kitchen products. You can also find gifts for just about any recipient imaginable. One of my favorite items from the store's website is the fabulous baby flatware set pictured above. This set would make a perfect gift for the newest baby on the block.

If you're over on J street, be sure to stop in to Koukla Kids, This children's boutique has unique clothing, shoes, accessories, and gifts. They carry a nice selection of See Kai Run shoes and a wide variety of the Tea collection clothes -- two of my very favorite lines if I am looking to splurge on something special. It's located right next to a few coffee places, a cupcake store, and a frozen yogurt shop so buy some clothes or gifts and get a treat for yourself too!

So there you have it, three local jems in Sacramento. Which city will be next?

Deal of the Day: Christmas in July?

It's hard to think of ornaments and mistletoe when it's 100 degrees outside. But for some hot deals on Christmas clothing for your kids, check out the sale on Best Dressed Child. You may have to look through several options to find a style you like in the size you need but your work will be worth it! You'll have a classic Christmas outfit all ready to go and some extra cash for the other items on Santa's list. That would certainly make me feel merry and bright.

Retail Therapy: Surviving Target

(Previously "published" on Facebook, but here again for your reading pleasure ...)

My Target survival skills:

1. It's not a deal if I don't NEED it.
For me, it is hard to rationalize needing another pair of flip flops even if they are a great bargain. And it is so hard to resist the table of cute $4 tee-shirts for the kiddos. But do they really need another tee-shirt?

2. Don't spend more than $1.99 on a greeting card.
I love stationery so this is a hard one for me. But, come on, what happens to a card after a person opens it? Unless it is for a really sentimental occassion, the card goes straight into the recycling bin. There are some great cards at Target for $.99, $1.49, and $1.99. This is especially cost saving when you have a month -- like June and July for us -- with lots of birthdays, Father's Day, etc.

3. Aim to spend $10 on a birthday gift, with some wiggle room up to $15.
Don't get me wrong, I am actually a very generous person. That being said, when your kid goes to maybe 15 birthday parties a year, you can really overspend on gifts. Plus, there are some super fun gifts that aren't expensive. Some of my son's favorites to give are: duffel bag filled with Play-Doh and accessories ($10.99), Candy Land in a cool plastic "case" ($8), Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Yahtzee Jr. ($9), Dora bat and ball set ($12), and bubble machines ($12).

4. Browse the end caps and Dollar Spot but be careful!
I love to browse the end caps and the Dollar Spot and if I see something that would be a great "gift closet" item, I pick up only one or two. After all, who needs $10 worth of SpiderMan markers? If you would never pay full price for the item you are holding, put it back down and walk away! The Dollar Spot is a great place to find party favors and stocking stuffers so I do recommend scanning the aisles if an event is getting closer. (Side note: I found great ladybug frames in the Dollar Spot in February and grabbed them for my daughter's "bug" birthday party. I printed a photo of each kid coming to the party and put it in the frame. Totally fun favor for less than $2!)

Cheap and Cheerful wants to know: How do you do Target without draining your wallet?

Deal of the Day: Livie and Luca shoes

Livie and Luca is a mom-owned company that sells soft leather shoes for the younger set. Sizes range from 4 to 12. Until July 21st, everything on the Livie and Luca site is 50% off. For around $20, you can outfit your favorite little person in their "adorable shoes for adorable feet". The shoes wear well and are a solid investment. However, these shoes are bound to sell out quickly so if you are in the market for new kicks, check it out soon.

Favorite Things: FoldnFlip Laptop Stand

If you're the lucky owner of an Apple Macbook or Macbook Pro, you need to check out this product. Designed by a friend of Cheap and Cheerful, the FoldnFlip "raises your laptop screen and keyboard, making it a breeze to type emails and surf the Web at your desk, on the couch, in your bed, and everywhere in between. Its innovative design takes the heat off your lap and enables better ergonomic typing for complete comfort. The Fold N Flip is durable and lightweight, folds completely flat, and has two easy-access handles. It's designed for your Apple® Macbook or Macbook Pro laptop and is available in gray, black and white." Available through Amazon.com for just $28.95.

Deal of the Day: Outdoor Beverage Stand

If you host a lot of outdoor parties, this good looking beverage stand from Lillian Vernon may just be the deal for you. Practical and functional, it will keep your cool drinks at hand so you can spend more time just visiting with your guests. It even features a serving tray that rests on the bottom of the stand. With the cash you'll save, you can stock your new stand with enough wine, beer, and soda for the whole gang. Now, that's a deal to get excited about.

Deal of the Day: Up to 60% off sale at Brooks Brothers

Brooks Brothers is highly regarded for its quality menswear but it's certainly not the first store you would mention when hoping for a great deal. Fear not -- the Brooks Brothers Summer Clearance Sale has arrived with a wide variety of items on sale, including their famous Non-Iron dress shirt. This shirt normally sells for $79.50 but is now priced at $39.75. There are also suits for boys at less than $160. If you've got a special event coming up, you might just snag a suit, shirt, and tie for less than the usual price of a jacket. This sale is definitely worth a look, either online or at your local store.