Save 40% at Banana Republic on already reduced items

Admit it... if you're a Banana Republic fan, a 40% off sale always puts a smile on your face.

Well it's back! Until July 4th, you can receive a 40% discount off already reduced items at Banana Republic Canada.

To get the discount on an online purchase, input the promo code "BRCANADA" upon checkout.

With the whole summer ahead of us, this is a great opportunity to get some new summer clothes to strut around in.

And on that note... there is also a 40% off sale happening at the Banana Republic Factory Stores (eg. the Vaughan Mills Outlet). A good idea to check it out: plenty of great outfits for work and play.

Amazing Amazon.ca Canada Day Sale (on now!)

Amazon.ca is having an amazing Canada Day sale this week!
In particular, many DVDs and Blu-Rays have been marked down significantly. Take for example:

• Black Swan: $10.00/$19.99
• Gilmore Girls: individual seasons from $12.49
• Gossip Girl: individual seasons from $19.99
• ER: individual seasons from $16.99
• Friends: individual seasons from $13.99
• The OC: individual seasons from $16.99
• Two and a Half Men: individual seasons from $21.99
• The West Wing: individual seasons from $12.49
• The Wizard of Oz: $10.49

These are only just a few of the many deals posted on Amazon.ca's website. Check it out and enjoy: it's always nice to have some movies on hand for rainy summer afternoons.

Century 21: Designer fashions for less... and now online?

Century 21 is a New York department store similar to Winners. Except with more inventory and crazy fervour amongst the shoppers!

Photo credit: www.c21stores.com

The Manhattan location is at 22 Cortlandt Street. Every savvy shopper visiting NYC should pay a visit. Just be prepared to spend a significant amount of time browsing the endless racks of clothing, shoes, accessories, handbags and the like. If your travelling companions are less interested in shopping and/or a little overwhelmed by crowds, a recommendation to allow them some time to check out the many other points of interest in the surrounding area. Or perhaps a beverage at the nearest Starbucks location (165 Broadway).


Countless brand name fashions are represented throughout the store. In many cases, the items are organized not only by type but brand to make the shopping experience a little easier.


You can expect to find some amazing deals! A recommendation to keep an eye on the price tags: often, additional reductions have been made on the sticker price, usually displayed as "take an additional (insert fraction here) off the price".


Century 21 also has locations in Brooklyn, Long Island, Rego Park, Morristown NJ and Paramus NJ. A new store will be opening in Lincoln Square soon.


Now here's something interesting: Century 21 has opened a members-only website very comparable to Montreal-based Beyond The Rack. Membership is required and although it is free, you need to sign up via invitation or by adding yourself to their "waitlist" once "spots open up". Seems pretty much like the blue-print that was used for Beyondtherack.com. I've gotten great deals from Beyond the Rack and am interested to see what Century 21 offers. That said, unless the merchandise is different or sold at lower prices, I anticipate that Beyond the Rack will continue to provide better deals for Canadians since customs fees are waived.


Anyways, Century 21 is definitely fun to explore and the prices are right! Hope you can check it out on your next trip to NYC!

Porter Airlines: Great rates + an awesome waiting lounge

Photo credit: Porter Airlines

I recently returned from a trip between Toronto and New York City (via Newark International Airport). At the time of booking, Porter Airlines was offering a 40% discount on any ticket booked prior to June 1, 2011. It appears they have another sale on at the moment:

Use the promo code SPLASH and you will receive 30% off the price of your ticket. Woo hoo!

To use this promo code, visit the Porter Airline website on or before June 29th to book your travel (any time between now and December 15th, 2011!!!)

Porter serves many Canadian and U.S. airports on the eastern seaboard. To see if your hometown or destination are serviced by Porter, see their destinations map. The number of locations might surprise you!

To get to New York City, we flew out of Toronto City Airport and landed in nearby Newark, New Jersey. We were first-time Porter passengers. Here are some of the reasons why we loved flying Porter:

1. Shorter drive to Toronto City Airport than Lester B. Pearson (note: we were intentional about avoiding rush hour peak periods)
2. If you are staying in downtown Toronto, there is a free airport shuttle that picks up/drops off passengers at the Royal York Hotel (across from Union Station). Super handy!
3. Check-in was extremely quick
4. The waiting lounge is fabulous! Access to internet as well as a business centre with several Apple iMacs ready to use
5. Free snacks and beverages before you even get on the plane! The airline provides Starbucks blend coffees and teas as well as snacks, pop and bottled water free of charge to all passengers while they are waiting. Thanks Porter: a great way to start off our morning!
6. Everything about the planes met our expectations
7. The crew was very friendly
8. When we arrived early in Newark for our return flight, they offered to put us on an earlier flight home which we appreciated
9. Porter provides in-flight snacks in these cute little boxes that you can hold in the palm of your hand. On the way there, they served banana bread. On the way home, it was yogurt and a Sara Lee cheese bread (which we didn't like as much since it was greasy)
10. The entire flying experience was well-presented and felt very retro-chic. I can't help but wonder if this is what flying might have felt like back in the day when it was less commonplace

Overall, we would definitely recommend Porter Airlines and would fly with them again. The only downsides we experienced were specific to Toronto City Airport:

• you have to wait for a ferry to take you to the island airport (only takes a few minutes though... non-issue from our perspective)
• on the mainland, there is little parking space for family/friends who might be picking you up. 
• Suggestion: take the free shuttle to the Royal York and get picked up there if you don't want to deal with parking lot congestion

Don't throw out that Nestle wrapper... there might be Aeroplan points inside!

The next time you have a Nestle Canada product in your hands, be sure to check the inside of the package before you throw it out: it could contain valuable Aeroplan points.

For those new to Aeroplan points (which I will cover in a post to come), these are loyalty points offered by Air Canada, their Star Alliance affiliates + local business partners. Nestle Canada happens to be one of the latter, hence why you might find a promo code redeemable for Aeroplan points inside marked packages.

The participating products tend to be one of candy, ice cream or pet food. Codes are good for 10-50 Aeroplan points, depending on the product.

So if you happen to be enjoying some ice cream or cracking open a bag of candy... remember to save that wrapper and log on to claim your Aeroplan points!

How to get Coach Shoes for $50! And why downtown Winners locations= fabulous!

Earlier this week, my sister and I were shopping at Winners in downtown Toronto. We were looking at the shoe racks and came across $50 Coach sandals. They are so cute! White wedges with a silver buckle bearing the Coach logo. We each bought a pair and have been sporting them ever since.

This has got to be one of my best finds at Winners to date. Earlier this year, I was shopping at the downtown Vancouver location and came across a number of other solid deals. My favourite was a Nine West shrug (normally $90+, selling for $30). What I've noticed: I never have luck at locations in the suburbs or in smaller towns, but always come out a "Winner" in the downtown locations.

Has anyone else had a similar experience or noticed a similar phenomenon? I'm curious if Winners distributes their merchandise differently depending on the location.

In any event, if you live in the suburbs or a small town- check your local Winners... and next time you're downtown, pop by as well. Trust me, you never know what you'll find!

How to get the most out of your Air Miles card

Do you collect Air Miles? If you do, you'll know that Air Miles is a loyalty program whereby you earn points for doing business with program sponsors. These points can be used towards airfare, other travel purchases or redeemed for prizes (gift certificates, coffeemakers... you name it). The program is free to enroll in: you can either pick up a collector card at a local sponsor (such as Safeway or Metro grocery stores) or sign up online on the Air Miles website.

If you don't collect Air Miles because it's "just another card to carry around" or "the points won't accumulate quickly enough for it to feel like an incentive", I encourage you to reconsider. If you already do any of the following actions on a regular basis, you could be accumulating Air Miles credit. This can really help to cut down the cost of travel. For example, in the past seven months I've been able to cover almost two flights (one somewhat local and the other cross-country). My spending patterns haven't changed; I just carry my card on my at all times. And in the meantime, money saved on flights turns into additional disposable income and savings.

Other than "keep your card on you at all times", here are some helpful ways to rack up the Air Miles as quickly as possible without changing your monthly spending patterns:

1. Do you visit Safeway for groceries? If you live out west, make sure to pop by Safeway on the first Tuesday of every month. Reason: there tend to be more Air Miles deals throughout the store than on average. Plus, you have the opportunity to take 10% off your bill or add 10x the Air Miles base to your total upon check out. Normally, you earn 1 Air Mile for every $20 spent at Safeway. I have walked out with over 400 points in a single trip having made few to no changes to my intended grocery list. Before you go, be sure to sign up for the Safeway e-mail direct listserv and check their flyer and facebook page for special Air Miles coupons that can't be found in store.

2. Do you buy things online? If so, log in to airmileshops.ca first and allow the website to re-direct you to a store of your choosing (chapters.indigo.ca, amazon.ca, clothing stores, Apple and the list goes on). On average, you will earn 1 Air Mile for every $20 spent (see website for details). During certain periods of the year, Airmilesshops.ca will offer 5x and 10x the points events. At the moment, you can earn 5x the points on purchases made through Airmilesshops.ca (until June 14th, 2011). Register your card number on their website and let the points accumulation begin!

3. Do you use a Mastercard or American Express Card? If so, both companies offer credit cards that allow you to earn Air Miles on your purchases.

BMO Gold Air Miles Mastercard

American Express Air Miles and Air Miles Platinum Cards

4. Do you travel? If you book on Expedia.ca or Marlin Travel, you can earn Air Miles on your purchases (visit Airmilesshops.ca and redirect to either site). If you book a flight on Air Canada on either of these sites, you can earn both Air Miles and Aeroplan points on your purchase! = even more free travel! It's also a good idea to check the Air Miles website for offers on rental cars and hotel stays: you can often earn hundreds of bonus Air Miles!

5. Do you ever visit a Shell station for gasoline or car washes? If so, swipe your blue card (and credit card if you have it) because you'll be earning Air Miles on your purchase.

6. Do you have to ship Christmas presents? Make your purchases online and send the gift directly to the recipients. Even if you will be joining them, it saves you having to pack them in your luggage. By making your purchases online, you're eligible to earn Air Miles by first visiting Airmilesshops.ca and allowing the site to redirect you to desired retailers. Often before Christmas, there is a 10x the points event! Definitely a great opportunity to take advantage of.

7. Do you need to purchase furniture from Sears or Sears.ca? Get your blue card ready... because furniture tends to be expensive, you're guaranteed to receive a number of points for your purchase. If purchasing from Sears.ca, be sure to visit Airmilesshops.ca first and re-direct to the Sears.ca website so you can earn your points.

8. Do you garden? How about do-it-yourself home repairs and upgrades? If so, Rona will help you find all the supplies you need. And give you Air Miles!

9. Do you visit the LCBO? (Ontario) Whether you need to pick up a bottle of wine for dinner or a 12 pack of beer for the cottage, believe it or not, you can earn Air Miles on your purchase. Why not?

These are just some of the many examples that outline how easy it is to accumulate Air Miles in a short period of time. Please let me know if you have any questions: I'd be happy to elaborate. I also plan to go into some of these points in more detail in future posts. In the meantime, I'm really excited about being able to fly home for the holidays for free :o) (well minus the taxes... you still have to pay taxes)

Happy collecting!

Just a reminder... today's the day for Brandsaver coupons in your local paper

See post below on Brandsaver coupons... so helpful and handy to have around the house.

Shoppers Drug Mart Super Spend Your Points Event

Do you happen to have a number of Shoppers Drug Mart Optimum points saved up? If so, check out the Super Spend Your Points Event:

Spend 40,000 points and get up to $90 off your purchase ($27 extra)

Spend 80,000 points and get up to $200 off your purchase ($64 extra)

This event applies to most in-store purchases minus the usual list of items which you cannot use Optimum points towards (stamps, gift cards etc)

The event runs both Saturday, June 4 and Sunday, June 5, 2011.

A good idea to also check the flyer to see if any of your fave products are on sale!

Proctor and Gamble Brandsaver Coupons... so wonderful

Photo credit: Brandsaver.ca

Check your local paper this weekend for the latest installment of Proctor and Gamble's Brandsaver flyer. This booklet contains tons of valuable coupons on items that tend to drive up the cost of your grocery bill. Examples of upcoming coupons (see Brandsaver website or Smart Canucks for additional details):

Paper products

Save 0.50 off any one Charmin product

Save 0.50 off any one Bounty product

Save 0.50 off any one Puffs product

Save 1.25 when you purchase two Bounty, Charmin or Puffs Products

Diaper products
Save $5.00 when you purchase any Pampers wipes and Pampers Diapers
Save $3.00 when you purchase any Pampers Easy-Ups Underjams or Splashers
Save $2 when you purchase one of Pampers Baby-Dry, Swaddlers or Cruisers

Cleaning products

Purchase any combination of Febreeze, Mr Clean and Dawn products (3) and get a Febreeze NOTICables warmer

Save $1.00 when you purchase any 2 Mr Clean products (*doesn't include single count package of Magic Erasers)
Save $3.00 when you purchase 2 Febreeze products
Save $1.00 when you purchase 2 Dawn products
Save $1.50 on Cascade ActionPacs

Save $5.00 on any Swiffer Sweepervac Starter Kit
Save $1.50 on any Swiffer Sweeper or Duster Starter Kit
Save $1.50 on Swiffer refills
Save $1.50 on Swiffer Dust and Shine

Save $3.00 on any two Tide (26 loads +), Downy (52 loads +), Bounce Sheets (80 count box +) or Bounce Dryer Bar

Pet Food

Save $2.00 on Iams dry dog or cat food (all sizes)
Save $0.50 on Iams wet dog or cat food (all sizes)

Batteries

Save $1.00 on Duracell Coppertop or Ultra Advanced batteries
Save $2.00 on Duracell Rechargeable Batteries (NiMH)
Save $5.00 on a Duracell NiMH Charger

Personal Care and Beauty Products

Save $2.00 on any Cover Girl product
Save $1.00 on a Nice'n Easy hair colour product
Save $3.00 on any 2 Nice'n Easy hair colour products
Save $1.00 on a Natural Instincts hair colour product
Save $3.00 on any 2 Natural Instincts hair colour products
Save $2.00 on one of: Venus Bikini Kit, Venus Embrace razor or Venus Spa Breeze razor
Save $2.00 on a pack of Venus disposable razors
Save $1.00 on Satin Care shave gel
Save $0.75 on Crest Toothpaste
Save $0.50 Cents on Oral B Glide Floss
Save $5.00 on Crest 3D White Whitestrips (excludes "Vivid")

Save $1.00 on a Crest Pro Health for Me Toothpaste
Save $1.00 on a Crest Pro-Health For Me mouthwash rinse

Save $1.00 on a Crest Pro-Health For Me manual toothbrush
Save $10.00 when you purchase a Braun Shaver
Save $20.00 when you purchase a Clean & Renew Shaver (see coupon for models)

Save $1.00 on any Old Spice product
Save $3.00 when you purchase any 2 Old Spice Products
Save $2.00 off Gillette Fusion Proglide razor
Save $2.00 off any Gillette triple-blade disposable razor
Save $5.00 when you purchase any three Gillette products OR a Gillette Gift Pack valued at $10 or higher

You can also access these coupons by signing into Proctor and Gamble's Brandsaver website. After creating a profile, you can select coupons to be sent directly to your home address for free. If there's a particular coupon that you would find useful, suggestion to order the coupon online as well as hold on to the copy from your newspaper.

Again, these coupons are great in that they help to reduce the cost of more expensive items. The coupons are good for several weeks: suggestion to use them when you see items on sale. Such an easy way to keep the cost of expensive items down. No "extreme couponing" required.