| Advertise with Java Journal and Save! |
|
|
 |
|
|
|
by Mary K. Morgan
If, like most of us, you are frantically looking for bargains to compensate for the sticker shock at the gas pumps, look no further. I can almost guarantee you will save a few bucks if you try a few of this month’s dollar-stretching tips. Some may represent a bit of a lifestyle adjustment, but sometimes change is good. Old shopping habits die hard, but there are some great alternatives to paying full retail prices. Save where you can, and the rising energy prices will be a little easier to take.
Gas Prices Soar! Drug Prices Plummet!
Many major drug and discount stores are now offering low, low prices on generics on their formularies. Schnuck’s can’t be matched with their list of free antibiotics, but Wal-Mart has the best local prices on the entire range of generic prescription drugs. The four-dollar price for a 30-day supply of medicine just got better. Now they are offering 90-day supplies for 10 dollars! The thrift of saving another two dollars off of an already low price, combined with the convenience of picking up a three-month supply in one visit — now that’s a real money saver!
In speaking to customers who have recently switched to the new, low-price generic prescription offerings around town, the comments have all been very positive. Some cite extraordinary savings. None of these store price plans require that you have prescription insurance coverage, but if you do, you could pay even less.
For non-generics, Costco seems to be the vendor of choice. When you receive a high-end prescription, shop it. It’s a mistake to walk in to the closest pharmacy or grocery store and expect to get the best price on a specific drug. Recently, a trip to the doctor yielded a prescription for an antibiotic that was very specific and could not be replaced by a substitute.
Where was the best price? Costco beat the others hands down by offering the medicine for a little more than half of my original quote from a well-known purveyor of food. And here’s the great news: the Costco pharmacy is open to non-members. Just tell the greeters at the door that you are going to the pharmacy, and you are in!
St. Louis is Lucky to Have Steve & Barry’s
If Old Navy style fits your taste but not your budget, then you might find Steve & Barry’s price tags more to your liking. Not every city can boast a Steve & Barry’s, but St. Louis is fortunate enough to have a super-sized outlet. This gem of a thrifty shop is located at Northwest Plaza in St. Ann, Missouri, 63074. If you need directions, call the store and they’ll guide you right there, (877) 762-9444.
Open seven days a week, this high-profile retailer is known for its rock-bottom prices. Even its already low tags get lowered when it’s decided to make everything in the store, including jackets and shoes, $8.98! On a recent trip, that was the going price, but check before you go if you are looking for special sales.
If you visit and don’t find anything to buy (which is not at all likely), shopping at Steve & Barry’s is an interesting experience. They are out to revolutionize retail merchandising by offering quality goods at the lowest prices possible, and they’re doing it successfully. Not a penny price increase is taken for granted, that’s why their signature price is $8.98 and $8.99. The company’s two CEOs recently considered the one-cent bump-up, but rejected it.
Parents all over the country rejoiced when Steve & Barry’s made “cheap” into “cool.” In 2006, they got together with NBA star Stephon Marbury and introduced the “Starbury II” basketball shoe as well as a Starbury Collection of clothing. The offerings are such a success that kids wait in line when new shipments arrive.
According to their web site, “The Starbury II boasts a sleek design and is engineered with the same comfort, stability and durability found in basketball sneakers that retail between $100 and $150 — and it’s just $8.98.” The response has been phenomenal.
And for the ladies, this year Steve & Barry's presents BITTEN™, a collection of high-quality, affordable sportswear for women, created by actress and fashion icon Sarah Jessica Parker. BITTEN™ reflects Parker’s personal style and taste. By August, the collection will comprise nearly 500 apparel and accessory pieces, each priced at $19.98 or less and designed for all ages and sizes. No doubt the overwhelming success of Sex and the City will boost BITTEN™ sales!
Free “Kid Films” at Wehrenberg Theatres this Summer
Wehrenberg Theatres are again hosting a summer film series for children. During the Family Summer Series 2008, kids can watch 10 great films for free. All films are shown Wednesdays and Thursdays at both 10:00 a.m. and noon. The remaining 2008 line-up is as follows:
July 9-10 Charlotte’s Web (G)
July 16-17 The Pirates Who Don’t Do Anything (G)
July 23-24 Bee Movie (PG)
July 30-31 Spiderwick Chronicles (PG)
Aug. 6-7 Shrek the Third (PG)
Aug. 13-14 Horton Hears a Who (G)
The participating theaters are Arnold 14, Jamestown 14, Des Peres 14, Town Square 12, Ronnie’s 20, Mid Rivers 14, Galaxy 14, St. Clair 10 and St. Charles Stadium 18.
It’s very hard to beat “free” entertainment, especially when the movies are top-notch and the venues are cool, clean and inviting. In addition to the free movies, a special concession package will be available at a moderate price. Enjoy the show!
Thrifty Wine Buys for the Savvy St. Louis Shopper
St. Louis shoppers are notoriously thrifty, even when times are good. Prices on everything seem to be raising daily, but shoppers in the Gateway City rise to the occasion. Whether you are a visitor or a long-time resident, bargains are always a welcome find. All of the money that you manage to save can be channeled elsewhere, and that translates into a more comfortable lifestyle for you and your family. No longer is thrift considered cheap. Now it’s thought of as smart!
You can shop the fancy wine shops in town and order your libations at a premium price, but for an interesting, thrifty wine-buying experience, try some of the following stores. I invite you to go on a treasure hunt to some of the less glitzy establishments around town where prices are rock-bottom, but the quality is impressive. Happy hunting!
• Trader Joe’s: Charles Shaw is the original “two-buck Chuck” wine. Now priced around three dollars, it is still a great buy. Others there are well worth a mention, but Chuck is the most famous.
• Aldi: The Winking Owl, their major wine offering, comes in several varieties. All are well worth the under-five-dollar price tag. In addition, they carry several imported labels that can easily compete with their higher priced cousins at specialty shops.
• Globe Drug: There are several branches of this St. Louis icon in town, but the Soulard branch carries a large variety of unusual, low-priced wines. Low price does not necessarily mean low quality. Being there is like being on a treasure hunt. The stock changes daily, make that hourly, and the décor is rustic, but interesting.
• World Market: The wine department of this import store is impressive. The close-outs are my favorite varieties. When I see a great price, I stock up. On occasion, I ask them to hold a case for an hour or so, then I go home and take a sip, just to make sure that I want a larger quantity. So far, I have always gone back for the case.
• Dierbergs: Here’s a very well-kept secret. Right in the middle of the huge assortment of more expensive labels you’ll find a store-brand line of wine, Oak Creek, that is delicious and priced at a very modest $2.99 a bottle. And if you purchase six, you can get a 10-percent discount! That’s 12 bottles for around $35. Stock up on your favorite variety, or mix and match — the price is the same.
FOX 2 Makes Hosting Garage Sales Easier and More Profitable
Residents of St. Louis know that Wednesdays and Saturdays are the preferred days for holding garage and yard sales. Now that the weather is warm, bargain hunters are hitting the streets early in the morning. Just in time to help with the cost of shopping these sales, Fox 2 has come up with a wonderful idea. A new feature on their web site, GarageSaleSTL.com http://media.myfoxstl.com/media/garage/index.html allows people to advertise their sales at no cost.
An interactive map of all of the listed addresses is available for planning your best, gas-saving shopping route. Other advantages of using the online listings are the offer of lengthier ad text and a liberal 10-day advance-notice policy. So clean out the house and make a few bucks at the same time — FOX 2 just made it easier.
“Parties in the Park” is Celebrating Its 25th Anniversary
For 25 seasons, Shaw Park in Clayton has hosted its now-famous after-work parties on the second Wednesday of each month, May through September, from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. Each party is a free event where friends, old and new, can relax and enjoy the music, food and conversation. This year’s remaining dates are as follows:
• July 9 Jake’s Leg
• Aug. 13 Groove Thang
• Sept. 10 Javier Mendoza
Saving money, finding bargains and taking advantage of good buys is an art. Become an artist. Don’t be hesitant to live large and spend small.
| July Featured Stories |
|
|
|
|
|
