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What NEVER to buy at a yard sale

Lisa Lee Freeman

Aug 29, 2018
2 min

What NEVER to buy at a yard sale

This is my absolute favorite time of year for yard sales. People get in the mood to declutter and toss their stuff across lawns and driveways ahead of the winter hibernation season. Some haul them to flea markets—my absolute favorite bargain-shopping destination for gorgeous fall weekends! But after working as a consumer expert at Consumer Reports for a decade, I don't look at these flea-for-alls like I used to. Yard sales can be a real minefield when it comes to safety. Here

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5 holiday-shopping hacks for snagging the best deals all season long

Lisa Lee Freeman

Nov 7, 2017
3 min

5 holiday-shopping hacks for snagging the best deals all season long

Ready or not, the holiday deals are coming! It can be crazy overwhelming—you’ve got to figure out not just what to buy friends and family, but also when and where to buy it. Should you jump in during Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales—or even earlier? Or should you wait until December or even later as the markdowns on many items get even deeper? And should you do most of your shopping online or in stores? Here’s a 5-step plan to max out your savings this holiday season. Get

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5 clever back-to-school shopping hacks

Lisa Lee Freeman

Jul 21, 2017
2 min

5 clever back-to-school shopping hacks

The back-to-school season is already in full swing. It’s the second biggest spending event of the year—second only to the winter holidays. And retailers are advertising big sales that will continue for the next two months. More parents are starting their back-to-school shopping earlier. Almost a third begin a month or two before the first school day, and nearly 50% start three to four weeks in advance, according to the National Retail Federation. And many parents are spreadin

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Where to hunt for the best bargains

Lisa Lee Freeman

Jun 9, 2017
2 min

Where to hunt for the best bargains

You can find tons of great deals online and on your mobile phone. Sites like Amazon and Jet, Blinq and Secondipity (for refurbs), and Hollar (it's like a dollar-store on steroids), and apps like Wish are filled with eye-popping bargains. But I've found my favorite bargains at walk-in stores. I admit, the treasure-hunt experience makes those finds particularly satisfying, but the best prices on the best stuff have always been on clearance racks and at outlets. This week, I was

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Bras and lingerie: Buy now or hold off?

Lisa Lee Freeman

Jun 5, 2017
1 min

Bras and lingerie: Buy now or hold off?

Timing is everything when it comes to saving money. Prices are constantly bouncing around, and if you hit it right you can catch the rock bottom and score the real deals! So what's a good deal right now? June is a great month for bra and lingerie sales. Major chains are having special sales right now, including Bare Necessities, Victoria's Secret, and Soma Intimates. So go for it! Your girls are worth it! #deals #bargains #bras #lingerie #VictoriasSecret

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My 3-step system for spotting REAL deals

Lisa Lee Freeman

Jun 4, 2017
2 min

My 3-step system for spotting REAL deals

It's the cutest little summer backpack! I found it sitting in a clearance bin with a bunch of super-fancy bags marked down to $400, $800, and even $1,200. This little leather number was a mere $59.99, marked down from $235—a 74% discount! But what’s a $59.99 bag really worth? The $235 "original price" sounded like a stretch to me—and I found similar bags from the same brand online for as little as $39.98. Marking up the "original price" is an old trick used by retailers to ge

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Retailer bankruptcies = deals & risks!

Lisa Lee Freeman

Jun 2, 2017
1 min

Retailer bankruptcies = deals & risks!

Radio Shack, Payless Shoes, rue21, BCBG Max Azria, and dozens of other retailers are going bankrupt. And struggling chains that haven't already gone under, such as J.C. Penney, Kmart, Sears, The Children's Place, Abercrombie & Fitch, and Chico's, are closing dozens of stores. What does that mean for you? Well, for starters, if you've got a gift card or any credit at these stores, use it ASAP—or you might be out of luck. Also, be on the lookout for big clearance sales at these

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