Deep Discount Bargain Hunting Can Save You a Bundle

Bargains Make Me Happy

We all love deals and deep discounts on name brand items. What's a deep discount? I consider it to be 80%-90% off the original price. I just discovered an outlet store that handles all sorts of items that have been returned to big name online retailers (think of Amazing retailers). When the packaging has been damaged to the point that the item has obviously been returned, the retailer decides it's not in good enough shape to sell. So they sell it to re-sellers who sell it at a fraction of the original cost. It it's something you need, you can reap the savings!

Bargain Hunt Superstores (I have no connection with them) is one of these re-sellers in the southeast US with deals like this. Baby items are plentiful, but like most items, it's hit or miss in what you'll find at any one time. Since the items are not in perfect packages you probably won't be able to gift the items. However you might find things that friends and family will be happy to get if they are not put off by the damaged packaging. Or let your them know when you spot something there you think they would like or need. Bring your smart phone to check on item ratings while you're in the store if you like or buy items that you know are good. A close friend tells me she gets baby items for 80%-90% off at one of these stores.

There are large toys there too & this could come in handy for Christmas and birthday shopping for your own kids. I'm assuming items will not qualify for any warranties that usually come with the item. A way to gift smaller items to others might be to put the unwrapped items in a gift basket and wrap in plastic wrap with a pretty bow.

Here are the locations of the Bargain Hunt stores. 
I hope you can find stores like this near you. If you know of other names for these type stores, please share!

Easy Light Summer Supper: Avocado Egg Salad Sandwiches with No Mayo

Heart-Healthy Avocado

Our daughter made this easy quick supper for us the other night. Unbelievable. I'm not a big fan of egg salad ordinarily, but this is no ordinary egg salad. It contains absolutely no mayonnaise, so it's healthier than most egg salad. It includes a large avocado that gives it the luxurious mouth feel that contrasts well with the crusty toast. You won't find this in any of the typical sandwich restaurants, and it's an inexpensive sandwich that tastes expensive.  Also quick to make when you want a light meal for dinner. What's not to like?

This light meal could have all sorts of sandwich names, but I like to call it Luxurious Avocado Egg Salad Sandwiches. Feel free to create your own name.

Luxurious Avocado Egg Salad Sandwiches (makes 3 generous sandwiches)

One large perfectly ripe avocado, cut into large chunks
8 hard-boiled eggs (boil the night before for quick assembly), chopped into medium chunks
Chopped cilantro to taste (It's even good without the cilantro.)
Salt and pepper to taste
1 Large tomato sliced into 1-inch slices
Rye bread, pumpernickel, whole wheat bread or bread of your choice toasted at the last minute (I like it fairly crusty)

Mix the eggs with the avocado using a serving spoon until it breaks down a bit into a nice consistency.
Add cilantro, salt, and pepper to taste.
Make the toast.

Spread the egg salad onto the toast, add a thick slice of fresh tomato and top with the other piece of toast. Yum. Serve with a side or dessert of fresh fruit if you like. A tall glass of iced tea is good too.

Variations
You can also use this mixture in a wrap or pita pocket with shredded lettuce. You won't have bits of the salad fall out as easily this way & is also very yummy. It will fall out of a bagel sandwich, but the combination is wonderful. Stuffing the filling into a "poor boy" bun is another option with wonderful possibilities--lettuce, piece of provolone, bacon, chopped onion?

These sandwiches could be nice on a croissant at a baby shower brunch or a sandwich buffet for a bridal shower also. You can make them into open-faced appetizers by spreading a bit on a small piece of toast and accenting with thin slice of red radish, piece of cucumber, or sprig of fresh dill. Very nice. Or spoon a dab of the mixture onto a cherry tomato half.

Keep this trick in mind to use avocado instead of mayonnaise in other salads and sandwich recipes. The avocado has heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids. Much healthier than mayo! 

For those with egg allergies, substituting avocado for mayonnaise in egg-free salads could work well. For example, tuna salad made with avocado instead of mayo. Also, check out these sandwich spread recipes for more mayonnaise substitutes that are really yummy and healthy.

You won't find this on a sandwich shop menu, but you can easily make this for yourself and guests any time you want a luxurious sandwich that is budget-friendly.

Love it for those summer nights when you want something quick and cool! IF you have any leftovers, it makes a brown-bag lunch a treat! Just pack the egg salad separately and spread on toast when you are ready to eat.

Giving Up TV or How I Save $70 a Month the Easy Way

So Many Choices; So Little Quality

We are joining the many people who have stopped getting cable/satellite tv. We will save $70 a month this way. Woo! I read about many people who have taken this step and wondered if we could do it. Now I know.

We've noticed that we don't watch much tv anymore. Isn't it amazing that with so many channels there's very little to watch? We have enjoyed some shows now and then, but mainly we've gone online for our news and entertainment. Even when we had the tv on we were mainly paying attention to our online entertainment. We joked about how we watch tv with our laptops open. (Yes, we still have laptops.)

When we spend time with extended family, few people want the tv on anyway. It's like we've rediscovered conversation! Some family members don't want the tv on when their small children are around so that keeps the tv off as well. No baby tv for them! It's much more fun to play with the kids!

We started a Netflix subscription some time ago and found that we were watching things on there more often than on "regular tv."  So why not save the $70 a month?

We pay $8 a month for Netflix and are fairly happy with the selections there. We have succumbed to the habit of watching an entire tv series in large chunks of several episodes. I'm not exactly proud of being such a couch potato, but it is great when you just want to cocoon for a little while. And you can really get into the characters.

Netflix will tailor your choices according to your rating of things you've watched. I like historical drama, for example, so I get to see what else they have in that category without doing a big search. Kind of nice. There is plenty of children's programming if you want that.

So we are giving up our high tv bill, but we are never giving up our search for better ways to spend our money. This is pretty painless saving also. Now if we had to give up our wifi? Not even gonna think about it!

What will we miss on tv? Not much. We did get a few chuckles from watching Pawn Stars, but I'll just have to live without Chumley.

Giveaway: iPad Mini and Pay-Off-Debt App

Entries Available

Would you like to win a free iPad Mini? How about a handy app that helps you pay off debt? This sweet giveaway comes from my fellow blogger Jackie at The Debt Myth. You get several chances to win just by using the easy Rafflecopter form at the link below:

Click here for the "It's Time for the Pay-Off-Debt App Celebration Giveaway."

Also take a look at Jackie's posts to help you get debt under control a step at a time! 

I hope you win! In my opinion, anytime you pay down debt, you are winning!