Happy New Year

My New Year's resolution is to update this blog more frequently, i.e. multiple times each week. So let's start with some great current deals.

Target stores in the Detroit metro area marked their Christmas items down to 75% off yesterday, matching Meijer's current 75% discount. Even if you aren't looking for any Christmas items, you should pay attention to the Target Christmas clearance because they mark down everyday commonly used items if they have holiday packaging. For example, last year I scored Reynolds Wrap at 90% off - regular silver aluminum foil but it was wrapped in plastic with a snowflake print. The trick is to find the "Hidden Clearance" items - items with a holiday print in their regular location in the store. The Reynolds Wrap deal isn't available this year, but here are some other items you may find throughout the store - Burt's Bee's Lipbalm in Snowflake cut out packaging, two pack of Bounce paper towels with ornament print, Green and Red colored plastic cups, cake/pie wedge design Kleenex boxes, and Kleenex brand hand towels. In the holiday section, you may find other useful everyday items packaged as gifts in red boxes - these include Ipod accessories, tools, flashlights, computer accessories, throw blankets, white plates, silverware, and small toys. If you want to wait for an extra good bargain, Target will be reducing further to 90% probably by the coming Friday, January 7. But few of the really great finds will be left at 90% off, so buyer beware.

Target additionally has its annual end of year toy clearance going on - current markdowns are 30-50%, but should go up to 50-75% in a couple of weeks. Also, if you're in the market for a top of the line vacuum, Target is currently discounting the Dyson DC17 All Floors model half price to $224.98 - this vacuum is currently sold on Amazon for $423.99. Click the link below to see the specs and reviews:
http://www.amazon.com/Dyson-12744-01-DC17-All-Floors/dp/B00253Q6AS/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1293918811&sr=8-3

Last but not least, take a moment to Tweet to take advantage of Amazon's deal of the day for $5 in free Video on Demand rentals/downloads. See details here:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/feature.html?ie=UTF8&ref_=amb_link_354933362_2&docId=1000646031
As an extra bonus, Amazon's Video on Demand deal of the day is a 99 cent rental of "Inception". That way, you can rent two recent releases. Regular rentals cost $3.99. This is great if you want to see some obscure movie that Blockbuster doesn't carry. Amazon's streaming films are terrific - I rented my free movie the other day and it worked great, despite a slow internet connection.