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Bargain Value - August 2009

SAVE ON BOOKS

August 28th 2009 12:32
SAVE ON BOOKS

Books? Remember those quaint low-tech devices that
do not require batteries or electricity to enjoy? They
offer countless hours of low cost entertainment and
can be used again and again.

By far, the greatest value in book buying can
be found at library book sales. At a recent
one I attended, over 6,000 books on all imaginable
subjects were offered for sale at salvage prices:
US$1 for hard covers or four soft cover books for
US$2.

All the books I purchased were in near mint condition.
It looked like they had been read once and then

tucked away on a shelf.

The key to finding the best selection of books
that interest you, including recent best sellers,
is to watch for advertisements promoting library
book sales and plan to arrive early on the day
of the sale.

Many libraries also offer discarded books for
free or at giveaway prices. If you're passing
by a public or college library, stop in and look
around for the book sale rack or notices
of an impending sale.

A few years ago, I purchased a 12 volume
hard cover set of the complete works of Charles
Dickens for all of US$7 at a library sale.

You know who else shops the library sales?
Many used book dealers who operate small shops
show up as well. You can usually spot them right
away. They are the ones grazing the sale tables
with cardboard boxes under their arms to deposit
their book haul in.

Besides the great prices, browsing at library book
sales is exciting in a way. You'll never know what
treasures you'll find.
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SAVE ON AUTO BODY REPAIR

August 26th 2009 13:56
SAVE ON AUTO BODY REPAIR

Ever return to your car parked in the shopping mall
parking lot only to find a nice round dent the size of
a basketball in your rear quarter panel?

Your first reaction is anger that the jerk who damaged
your car didn't leave a contact note. After fuming, your
next thought is to have the ugly welt repaired.

Theoretically, your auto insurance should cover hit
and run body damage but then there's those pesky
deductibles and the very real possibility that your greedy
insurance company will use this opportunity as an

excuse to raise your rates.

You could take your car in to an auto body repair shop,
but that's kinda pricey--US$250 or so--for something
that doesn't absolutely have to be repaired.

Yet still, that damn dent makes your nice car look shabby
and devalues it at trade-in time so you want to get it popped out.

We recently went through this same scenario. While thumbing
through a mail order tool catalog from Northern Tool and
Equipment Company (they also have retail stores) we spotted
a suction cup "heavy duty dent puller" for $17.99.

We doubted that the device would actually work as easily as
the catalog claimed, but we figured for US$17.99 it was worth a
try. And we'd been pleased with products we'd purchased from
this company in the past, so we ordered the dent puller......

When it came, we opened the box and immediately placed the
aluminum handled 4.92 inch suction cup over our basketball sized
dent on our little Prius. With positive suction applied, we did a quick
short pull and then pulled the easy to work suction release handle.

After removing the device we found the dent was gone. Good as new!
This repair job took all of 30 seconds!. And, we have a durable nice
little tool we can use again and again when needed.

You know, sometimes simple low-tech, low-cost tools work pretty
darn well and save you plenty of money over the years. Think of
good tools as an investment.

The trick of course is to store the tools away properly so you can
find them quickly when you need them.
13
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SAVE ON WINDOW CLEANER

August 24th 2009 13:38
SAVE ON WINDOW CLEANER

Since it isn't a "big ticket" item, most people don't look
for ways to save on their purchases of common
window cleaner products.

Why not? All those little household purchases add up from
year to year. If you were able to save a dollar or two on
each purchase you would be enriching your family's
bank account rather than some mega corporation's
coffers.

Here's a way to save on window cleaner, a item that most
households have at least one bottle of in the cupboard.

Rather than reaching for the big name brand product of
window cleaner with its premium price, drop by the local
dollar store and buy a product that will do the simple
work of cleaning glass surfaces for just a dollar.

Better yet.......make your own window cleaner.
All you need is an inexpensive bottle of ammonia,
a bottle of common isopropyl alcohol (available
in pharmacies and supermarkets), tap water
and an empty spray bottle.

Fill the bottle a little over a quarter full with ammonia,
add a few ounces of isopropyl alcohol (four percent
of the container's total volume) and fill the remainder
with tap water.

Replace the spray bottle insert and cap. Shake, or stir
if you prefer; and there you go a bottle of excellent
window cleaner for just pennies.

Be sure to save the bottles of isopropyl alcohol
and ammonia to refill your window cleaner bottle.

Yeah, your homemade window cleaner won't have that
pretty blue color of the expensive stuff, but window
cleaner can be any color including clear!

If you really have to have a colored bottle of window
cleaner, add a drop or two of food coloring and make
it any color you like.
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SAVE ON FROZEN TREATS

August 20th 2009 12:51
SAVE ON FROZEN TREATS

Got kids? Are they bugging you for over-priced ice cream


[ Click here to read more ]
25
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Discount food store strategies

August 18th 2009 13:01
DISCOUNT FOOD STORE STRATEGIES

Ever shop in those off price discount food stores that offer closeout food products


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26
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SAVE ON OIL

August 14th 2009 12:14
SAVE ON OIL

Here at EL CHEAPO we have come up with field proven ways to


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12
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SAVE BIG ON SODA

August 12th 2009 11:19
SAVE BIG ON SODA

If you are one of those shoppers who absolutely has to have her premium brand


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26
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SQUEEZE THE LAST DROP OUT

August 11th 2009 11:24
Let's face it. Name brand dish soap is not cheap. You know, those 38 fluid ounce bottles
of green soap you keep by the kitchen sink.

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WELCOME

August 10th 2009 13:01
WELCOME TO: EL CHEAPO!
Thanks for tuning in, you'll be glad you did. This blog is guaranteed to save you
money by giving you proven tips in each post. From saving on household products


[ Click here to read more ]
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