Tired of looking at all those cords surrounding your t.v., XBOX, Wii game console, and DVD/Blu-ray player? 

Now through Sunday, February 15, Crate & Barrel is offering a 15% discount on shelving (think bookcases wide and tall) and entertainment centers for your living room, bonus room, and loft spaces.  In conjunction to its Media Sale, Crate & Barrel is also having a Mattress Sale with up to 20% off all Simmons mattresses.  If you act fast and order discount Crate & Barrel gift cards from Plastic Jungle while they’re still in stock, you could make these Crate & Barrel Media and Mattress Sale prices even lower!

If you’ve had your eye on a $500 Crate & Barrel shelving system, during Crate & Barrel’s Media Sale this same item may be on sale for $424.15.  But, because you’re a savvy shopper, you can get the same shelving system for an additional 8% less with Plastic Jungle discount Crate & Barrel gift cards.  That means the shelving that would have originally cost you $500 is available for $390.22 through February 5!

Are you tired of waking up with back pain?  It might be time to get a new mattress.  There’s no better time to buy a mattress than when you can find a store sale like the 20% savings found during Crate & Barrel’s Mattress Sale right now.  Save even more during the Crate & Barrel Mattress Sale by stacking Mattress Sale discounts with discount Crate & Jungle gift cards from Plastic Jungle.

If you’re like me, you’ve walked into a Crate & Barrel and have instantly found several items that would look good in your home.  If you’re a deal hunter and love Crate & Barrel you know Crate & Barrel sale prices are rare.  Crate & Barrel offers price discounts about once a year on select items.  For the end of January, Crate & Barrel’s discount prices are found on media towers, shelving, and mattresses.

Don’t wait until 2013 to find media and mattress prices this good at Crate & Barrel!  Order your Crate & Barrel discount gift cards now.

Crate & Barrel Frugal Shopping Tip: If you’ve been dreaming of a Crate & Barrel bedroom set (bed frame, dresser, etc.), you’re likely to find sale prices around August.

The holidays are nearly here! You’ve probably still got some shopping to do before the big days. Before you run out and get caught up in the panic of last minute shopping, take some time to relax, and make sure that you are still getting all the best deals. Check out these five tips to help you stay a savvy shopper during the holidays.

Pick out good sales over shopper scams. Nearly every single store you visit will have some sort of sale. Many of these aren’t actually good deals at all. Plenty of stores are just trying to get you to come in or buy something that still costs too much. Don’t go into a store just because you see something for “free.” Be sure to read up on all the fine print of big sales or free items.

Stick to your shopping list. With all these crazy sales, it can be hard to resist buying something when it has a giant 40% off sticker on it. However, it’s best to only buy items on sale that you were looking for in the first place. Otherwise, you’ll end up with a bunch of stuff that you don’t really need, and you will end up spending much more money than you anticipated.

Keep your cool while shopping. It’s easy to get caught up in all the excitement of the holidays while shopping. Make sure that you enjoy your shopping trips without going crazy with your credit card. Consider taking a friend with you while you shop to make sure that you don’t start impulse buying gifts that you don’t really need to buy.

Check for free shipping when you shop online. You don’t have to go to the mall to find a good deal. There are plenty of great deals online. However, shipping can be very expensive. Before you place an order, look around and see if you can find a store that has free shipping. Sometimes shipping can be well over $20, so taking the extra time to look around for a store with free shipping can save you a lot of money.

Shop after the holidays. There are many great sales right after the holidays. If you’re looking for some specific items that are a little more expensive, try to wait until after the holidays are over. If you want to give one of these items as a gift, make your recipient a cute little IOU card or a gift certificate and buy the item for them the next day. That way, they still get what they want and you can save some money.

About the Author: Kiley Theiring is a film student at Chapman University who also loves to write. She writes about saving money and living frugally for Coupon Mountain and also maintains her own personal blog.

Gift Card Deals from Their Favorite Stores Save You Hassle, Make Teachers Happy

Most schools let out this Friday: scrambling for a gift to get to your child’s teacher in time might be a stress-point. Browsing through Plastic Jungle will get you on your way, and at less than retail price.

Any parent will tell you that finding the right balance between meaningful teacher gifts (something written or created by your child specifically for the teacher) and thoughtful teacher gifts (straight-on cash for poorly paid teachers) is an annual quandary.

Teachers love gift cards – they don’t require watering, or display, or even add empty calories to their diet. Here are some ideas from GiftCardGirlfriend.com.

Plastic Jungle saves parents the hassle of even perusing the gift card mall at the grocery store. Right here is an aggregate of top-brand gift cards that run the gamut from Starbucks to Bath & Body Works to Walmart to Sony Style, and iTunes retail and online stores*. With an eCode, or an online gift card, you can shop as late as Thursday night, and get your teacher’s gift in by Friday. Plus, these are discounted gift cards, sent to you with free shipping, offering a price break without any hassle. (Sometimes, when you get a gift card directly from a retail outlet online, you have to pay for shipping… actually adding cost!)

One idea for presentation is to have your child make a card, and include a slot for the gift card, or a print-out of the code. You could even do a collage with items you have in mind for the teacher, or a list of songs you think the teacher might like to download.

You’ve got to save time. You’ve got to save money. And, you have to say “Thanks so much!” Plastic Jungle offers parents, and anyone gift giving this holiday season, just that.

*Remember, gift card offerings on Plastic Jungle change all the time. Check back frequently, or sign up for email notifications, for offers from the store of your choice.

Written by Elina Furman, co-founder of Mamaista.com

Sample Site Madness
Like most moms, our days of running off to the latest sample sales are a thing of the past. What with the kid’s demanding schedules, there’s simply no time to rummage through all those racks and take advantage of the savings. Luckily, there are a whole slew of online sample sites that you can visit from the comfort of your couch.

For moms looking to find fashionable new holiday wear, look no further than sites like Gilt.com, HauteLook.com and BillionDollarBabes.com. Many of these sites also offer lux home wear and gift items that you can stock up throughout the year and then hand out as gifts during the holiday season or on birthdays.

If you’re looking for gifts for the smallest members of your household, there are also sample sales sites that cater to the little ones. Toys, clothes and baby gear can be found at rock-bottom prices at sites like TheMiniSocial.com and Totsy.com.

Trade It In
If you’re in dire need of raising some extra funds, don’t despair. You need only rummage your drawers and closet for what could be an avalanche of riches. Whether you’ve been sitting on a pile of unwanted gift cards or looking to score some discounted cards at your favorite shops, head straight to PlasticJungle.com. The site features a genius concept, since they let you buy, sell and exchange your old gift cards. Not only that, if you don’t want the cash, you can start the season off right by donating unwanted even partially used gift cards to a charity of your choice.

Speaking of swapping your old cards, how about trading in some of your unwanted items for something you actually need. And we’re not just talking about eBay, but at a whole new crop of sites who let you exchange your unwanted CDs, book, apparel, and baby stuff. Websites such as Handmedowns.com, Swaptree.com, and BookMooch.com are just a few of the many out there that will have you smiling this holiday season.

One Deal, One Day!
Moms looking to score the best on everything from toys to museum admission to massages need to sign up at these new websites taking the internet by storm. Here’s how it works. You sign up for their daily deal alert, get an email with one amazing offer, and then speed on over to the website to claim your deal before it’s all gone.

And there’s something for everyone — even hubby. Woot.com offers daily deals on high-end electronics and Kids.woot.com for babies and kids. Groupon.com offers amazing savings at local restaurants, spas and attractions that are sure to guarantee a festive holiday season and beyond. Also, look for deal-a-day sites offering savings on kids clothes and gear. Two top sites are greenbabybargains.com and babysteals.com (who also recently launched kidsteals.com for older kids).

So there you have it! With all the amazing deals online and new ways to save money on luxury, quality finds, there’s absolutely no stopping your family from having one of the most festive holidays seasons yet.

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