JC Penney has been a hot topic on this blog for over a year. The store went through drastic changes in early 2012, and then started backpeddling. CEO Ron Johnson was fired, and now former CEO Mike Ullman is back. So are all of the things you missed about JC Penney — the sales, the coupons and the brands.

The store has now gone so far as to release a video apology in an effort to bring back shoppers.

Do you accept the apology?

With the store going back to its old ways, does that mean you’ll start shopping there again? If not, why?

For more information on all the dirty details, this Forbes article does a nice job of summing it all up.

J.C. Penney has been evolving for a year.

Early in 2012, the retailer introduced a new pricing strategy (which included scheduled discounts and a “best price” instead of clearance), a revamped return policy and dropped coupons.

In the months since, J.C. Penney also introduced “The Shops.” A shop refers to each brand’s section of the store. It’s the same idea other department stores follow: sections for national brands, sections for the store’s brand, etc. However, J.C. Penney incorporates a larger display for the merchandise. Through 2015, most J.C. Penney stores will host about 40 shops in each store.

By fall of 2012, though, J.C. Penney did away with the new pricing strategy. Clearance prices returned, but there were still no sales or coupons.

Two months later, we got a hint that things could be changing yet again: There was a Black Friday sale.

Fast forward to this past January, when J.C. Penney announced that it will be bringing back sales.

According to Kate Coultas, a J.C. Penney spokeswoman, “We’ll provide additional savings on popular items that are important during key events and holidays including Valentine’s Day, Easter, Father’s Day, Mother’s Day, Back-to-School, Holiday (this includes Black Friday), etc. and we will also participate [in] vendor promotions.”

Unfortunately for those shoppers who were also hoping to see the return of coupons, Coultas said it’s not happening.

However, she said the retailer “will continue to provide $10 gifts to our jcp rewards members as part of our customer loyalty program.”

Pricing

Aside from clearance pricing and sales, the merchandise at J.C. Penney is still marked at an everyday low price cheaper than what we saw before the store began its transformation.

The store hopes that customers will recognize and take advantage of these lower prices and not feel pressured to wait for sales. But so far that strategy has been a miss, as the store’s sale numbers have plummeted.

In an effort to call more attention to its low prices, J.C. Penney has started printing price comparisons on merchandise tags and in ads. These price comparisons come in three different categories: the elsewhere price or suggested retail price (used on national brands), MSRP (used on private brands) and an appraisal value (used on fine jewelry).

The website states that the elsewhere price “reflects a comparison to the price of that or a comparable item found online or in-store at national specialty, home, or online-only retailers during the last 90 days.”

The MSRP is a suggested price provided by suppliers.

Appraisal values get a little more complicated. The site describes this number as “the total Estimated Retail Replacement Value for Insurance Purposes provided to jcp by the International Gemological Information Division of International Gemological Institute, Inc. as of the date of appraisal based on a representative sample of the production run for such item.”

The appraisal may not have occurred within the last 90 days, and it’s based on an average of market prices, labor, materials, comparable sales data and more.

According to jcpenney.com, each comparison is rounded down to the nearest dollar.

Inside stores

When I brought up the most recent changes on the Shoptimist blog, many readers responded that they were still disappointed. Many also brought up a lack of customer service in stores.

Coultas said that the store does plan to move to a self-checkout system in the future, but shoppers should actually be seeing more employees on the floor because J.C. Penney has launched its mobile checkout option.

“By the end of our first quarter, every team member on the floor will have a iPod Touch device, allowing them to be free from being behind the register (we will still have traditional registers) and out on the floor assisting customers and checking them out,” she wrote in an email.

So what else can shoppers expect to see in stores this year?

Sarah Holland, another J.C. Penney spokeswoman, said that Valley View and Tanglewood malls will be getting the Joe Fresh shop, a Canadian apparel brand.

Other shops that have arrived or will be arriving in 2013 are L’Amour Nanette Lepore, Pearl by Georgina Chapman of Marchesa, William Rast and LULU by Lulu Guiness.

Holland also added, “We are opening new shops with Martha Stewart, Jonathan Adler, Michael Graves and Sir Terrance Conran this spring for the launch of our home floor makeover.”

 However, she could not comment on where exactly these shops will open. There was also no news about a Sephora opening in any Roanoke or New River Valley J.C. Penney locations.

 J.C. Penney salons will continue to run special promotions in stores. In the past we’ve seen offers like free haircuts for kids and breast cancer survivors. Throughout the month of March customers can get a free eyebrow shaping with any salon service of $32 or more.

 Join the debate

Will these changes encourage you to shop at J.C. Penney?

Here are some excerpts from comments that blog readers shared:

Adriad wrote: “Probably the one strategy jcp is doing that I agree with is their new pricing. They lowered their prices in the store last year to the price that they would have been WITH the stupid coupons they used to do, and still give you credit card holders your reward coupons on top of that.”

 LadyA wrote: “I used to go to Penneys frequently and now, I get so disgusted with the stores and their new changes that I just leave and shop elsewhere. I have had success with ordering online though and the curtains I got were good. But it’s sad to see another department store doing something absolutely stupid at a time of such uncertainty.”

RM wrote: “Penney’s needs to 1. Fire the guy who started all of this. 2. Go back to the way they were before it all started. 3. Have a big ad campaign apologizing for such a screw up and asking their customers to return.”

Kathy E Nemeth wrote: “Just wish they would make up their minds. I have been disappointed with the last change let alone another one. … Hope they can rebound. I really like their merchandise but knowing what price I am going to pay and then getting to the register is another thing. Prices are very confusing.”

This isn’t exactly breaking news, but it is a topic I know gets many of you going: the constant changes at JC Penney. At the end of January the retailer announced more news for shoppers.

First, they’re bringing back sales. Second, on price tags and in the ad you’ll start to see competitor’s pricing on products (like the price tags at TJ Maxx and Marshalls).

The retailer is also making an effort to let shoppers know the quality of its merchandise can still compete with the more expensive merchandise at other retailers. A recent AP article says JCP has even involved its legal team in this process.

Before these changes JCP already brought back clearance merchandise and dropped its pricing structure, which involved specific markdown dates for merchandise, monthly deals and “best prices.”
There’s still no indication that coupons will be returning, disappointing many former JCP shoppers.

So, it’s that time again. How do you feel about the retailer now that sales are back?

Speaking of frugal parents, how many times did you hear “money doesn’t grow on trees” growing up? Stock photo.

Wise Bread is one of my favorite financial websites. It has inspired many of my columns and is a great resource for money-saving tips. The site also publishes funny columns from time to time, like “30 Signs That You Were Raise by Frugal Parents.”

 Now, this list isn’t meant to be taken too seriously. I got a few laughs out of it. My parents weren’t overly frugal, but they’re definitely bargain hunters and do-it-yourselfers — clearly it rubbed off on me.

 To read the full column click the link above, but I’ve pasted the 30 signs below. The numbers in bold apply to myself, and I’ve left a few comments in Italics. Which can you relate to?

1. You skip the headlines in the Sunday paper and head straight for the sales inserts.

2. You’ve washed (or seriously considered washing) tin foil to use it a second time.

3. You remember smuggling homemade snacks into the Saturday matinee.

4. You know how to buff your shoes to high shine by adding a bit of water or heat to the polish.

5. You’ll still stop to pick up a penny. (Confession: only if it’s heads up)

6. You ignore the suggested use or recommended quantity directions on most products.

7. There’s a coupon organizer in your purse or car (extra credit if it includes a calculator). (No calculator in my coupon book, but the one on my phone comes into play often)

8. You save rubber bands or twist-ties.

9. The chocolate milk you were served as a kid was heavily diluted with regular milk.

10. You have a loyalty card to any thrift store chain.

11. You can sew a button, darn a sock, or repair a seam.

12. You firmly believe that vinegar and bleach are the only two household cleaning products anyone really needs. (Maybe not the ONLY cleaning products anyone needs, but these two products are life savers with universal uses)

13. Your family holds a contest to guess how much money is in the change jar every six months.

14. A little mold on bread or cheese doesn’t cause you to immediately toss it.

15. There’s an almanac somewhere in your home.

16. You know the technique for properly canning food.

17. You know what Green Stamps are.

18. Your medicine chest has at least two hotel soaps or bottles of shampoo in it.

19. You know how to change the oil in your car (even if you don’t always do it yourself).

20. The primary toys of your childhood were wooden blocks, the great outdoors, and a tire swing. (I had plenty of traditional dolls, Barbies, etc., but I lived to play outside as a kid and loved to swing)

21. You know the balance of your checking account (within $5.00) at all times and without looking.

22. Negotiating the price of a used car inspires a sense of adventure and thrill.

23. You know the secret magic that’s contained in every bottle of furniture scratch cover.

24. You have a secret stash of used, neatly folded gift wrap from previous holidays and birthdays.

25. You regard empty butter and yogurt containers as a reuse challenge, not trash.

26. At least three pieces of your household furniture were acquired through dumpster-diving, a yard sale, an estate sale, or thrift store.

27. You brag to friends about how much you saved instead of how much you spent. (This probably gets really old after a while, but I’m not sorry)

28. You can calculate any product’s price-per-ounce in mere seconds.

29. Your dryer sheets have three times the life expectancy of other people’s.

30. You rinse out laundry detergent bottles and cut open toothpaste tubes to get at the last bit of product.
So, which of these do you fall under? What would you add to the list?

Physical books are becoming a thing of the past. If you have an eReader, how do you access new reading material. What are you willing to pay?
Photo by SAM DEAN | The Roanoke Times

With tablets becoming so popular, eBooks are also gaining in popularity. I haven’t ventured into that territory yet, but I’m interested to see how those who have get their books.

Do you buy them off of Amazon or iTunes, or do you rent them from the library? Who has the best prices and selection?

What’s the most you’ll pay for an eBook?

Tell me a little about your habits in the comments section below.

Congratulations to the winner: Eddie! He wrote:

“Ten years ago I had been working out of town. I was on my way home. My plane landed February 13th at 11:00 pm. I was traveling with my boss. His car was at the airport so he gave me a ride home. My wife was going to surprise me that night with my Valentines present since it was minutes from February 14th. I asked my boss in for a beer to wind down from the flight. When we walked in my wife was on the other side of the door wearing nothing but a red bow! I opened the door and we both walked in. She started screaming and took off running and my boss ran back down the sidewalk!”

I hope your wife enjoys this gift set. She deserves it after that embarrrassing moment!

__________________________________________________________________________________________

I think Valentine’s Day gets taken way too seriously. You hear stories about single people hating the date and couples going overboard on lavish gifts and dinners. So how about we take this moment to laugh a little bit — and possibly win a prize?

Some of the most memorable holiday moments for me have been the goofiest. Last year, my date got me a Clemson Snuggie. He had the best of intentions and thought he was buying me a nice fleece blanket — which he did, but this blanket also had sleeves. Fast forward to later in the evening, after a glass or two of wine, and we were having a blast modeling my gift. I’ve also used that gift to keep toasty during multiple evenings of online shopping — that’s something a box of chocolates can’t do for ‘ya.

So, what have some of your Valentine’s goofs been? Did a flaming dessert at a restaurant go rogue? Did your romantic date night turn into a crazy adventure?

Share some of your laughable experiences below and you could win a MAC gift set.

The new “Archie’s Girls” line just became available and I’ve got a nice sampling to share.
This gift set includes: a mirror, mascara, lip gloss, lip stick, nail polish, powder and eye shadow set.
Also, it’s all worth a grand total of over $160.

Ladies, enter for yourself, a friend, your mom — whoever you’d like to share the wealth with. Gentlemen, this is a great opportunity to impress your Valentine.

Enter between now and 10 a.m. Monday to be eligible. I’ll pick a winner at random and make the announcement by 11 a.m. Monday. If win and would like your gift set by Valentine’s Day you can come pick it up at the paper, otherwise it will be mailed to you.

If you remember to take advantage of them, price matching programs can save  you a lot of money. Stores like Sears and Lowes have offered price matching for years. Other stores offer the service seasonally, which is what Target has done in the past.

  However, things are changing. Target recently released information about its new Low Price Promise  price matching program.

Here’s what the retailer says about the new policy:
“If you buy a qualifying item at a Target store then find the identical item for less in the following week’s Target weekly ad or within seven days at Target.com, Amazon.com, Walmart.com, BestBuy.com, ToysRUs.com, BabiesRUs.com or in a competitor’s local printed ad, we’ll match the price. Price match may be requested at Guest Services prior to your purchase with proof of current lower price or by bringing in your original Target store receipt and proof of the current lower price.”

The most important thing to note is the offer to price match websites. Very few retailers will price match anything outside of a printed ad. With the variety of barcode scanning apps available these days, lower prices are literally at your finger tips.
It’s also nice that they will match the price within seven days of purchase, plus you can still use coupons in addition to the price match.

How do you feel about the new policy? Are you more likely to shop at a retailer who offers price matching?

Black Friday is no longer the only day you can shop in the wee hours of the morning. How do you feel about extended holiday shopping hours? | Stock photo

Black Friday was just the start of stores opening at crazy hours to compete for sales over the holiday season.

Toys R Us is currently open until midnight Monday through Thursday and until 1 a.m. Friday through Sunday. Macy’s is taking it a step further and plans to be open for 48 hours straight the weekend before Christmas. And those are just a couple examples of the extended holiday hours that you can find.

Now, I’m curious — does that really help you at all? Is it more or less likely to attract your business? 
Will you be one of the shoppers browsing Macy’s at 3 a.m. on Dec. 22, or loading up a bike at Toys R Us at 12:45 a.m. this weekend?

Tell me how you feel about these late-night shopping hours in the comments section below. I may be able to use your input in a future column.

As usual, I’ll be all snug in my bed this evening and into the early hours of the morning when many of you will be bargain hunting. I get my fill througout the rest of the year.

But, I’d still love to know about your escapades.

How do you prep for Black Friday? Where do you plan on shopping? What’s your best Black Friday find? Have you run into any crazy behavior?

If you need some tips, check out some of these suggestions from the Better Business Bureau.

Despite taking some time off, I’ll be approving your comments from afar today through Monday.

Good luck, shoppers!

If you haven’t caught the holiday shopping bug yet and you’re in need of some inspiration, I’d suggest you check out our new Best of Holiday Shopping Guide.

This website and publication has tons of voting results from readers, as well as content from some familiar bloggers from The Roanoke Times (like myself, Lindsey Nair, Sarah Jones and David Verde).

Black Friday is right around the corner and you can bet I included some tips in the guide about prepping to shop on the big day.

Check out all of the results, and feel free to chime in if you think something was left out — it’s never too early to start campaigning for your favorites for 2013!

Veterans Day is coming up on November 12. Stock photo.

Ok, readers, time to chime in.

I’m working on a column about freebies and deals for veterans in honor of Veterans Day (Nov. 11).

I’ve got a great list so far, but I don’t want to miss your favorites.

If you’re a military vet, or know someone who is, share your favorite discounts in the comments section below. I’m especially interested to see if I can find any deals at local retailers and restaurants.

I know many of you have been suggesting this list for a while, so hopefully it leads to big savings for some people who really deserve it.

Note: The 3rd Annual Virginia Veterans Parade in Downtown Roanoke is happening Saturday, Nov. 10 at 11 a.m.

This week’s prize on the Best of Holiday Shopping blog is lunch with your favorite Roanoke Times blogger. Just leave a comment on the Best of blog telling us who you voted for in the best restaurant category.

You have all week to enter and then a winner will be chosen at random. Good luck!

Note: Any comments left on this blog will not be eligible, you must comment on the Best of blog.

Now through Sunday, when you leave a comment on our Best of Holiday Shopping blog you’ll be entered to win a $45 Sheetz gift card.

There will be a new topic and new prizes each week, so keep checking back!

This week’s topic is: Hitting the Road

In the comment, say where you would go on a day trip for out of town shopping. Charlottesville? Richmond? Lynchburg? Just name the destination!

Be sure you comment on the Best of Holiday Shopping blog. Any comments left here will note be entered to win.

Candy corn is a classic, but what do you buy? Share in the comments section. Stock photo.

Halloween is right around the corner, can you believe it? Most Halloween merchandise and candy is already on sale, and some stores are even prepping for Christmas.

Before we get ahead of ourselves, though, I’m interested in your Halloween habits. How much candy do you buy, and what do you consider a good price?

Are you the most popular house on the block handing out full-size candy bars, or do you just pick up whatever is cheapest? Does each trick-or-treater get a handful or is it strictly one Tootsie Roll per person?

Tell me all about it in the comment section, I’d like your input for a future column.

The Levi's Shop in the Valley View Mall JC Penney. REBECCA BARNETT | The Roanoke Times

Since J.C. Penney announced some major changes in January, customers have had to pick a side: old or new J.C. Penney?

But you may want to wait before you officially choose. The retailer plans changes through 2015, and big things are still happening.

In January, J.C. Penney announced it would no longer have coupons, changed its pricing strategy, revamped the return policy and signed Ellen DeGeneres on as spokeswoman.

Three of these changes remain in effect today: no coupons, a clear-cut return policy and a collaboration with DeGeneres, despite a negative response from some conservative groups.

The pricing strategy, however, has been altered again. The retailer had introduced monthly deals and “best” prices on select products as a way to simplify shopping strategies. Those are now gone.

Instead there are only everyday prices and clearance merchandise – something shoppers said they missed. Each Friday, merchandise is put on clearance to make room for new products, and the clearance price represents the lowest markdown.

“We’re really focused on making it simple for the customer,” said Kate Coultas, a J.C. Penney spokeswoman.

Though there are still no coupons, shoppers can earn jcp rewards.

J.C. Penney cardmembers are automatically enrolled in this program. If you’re not a cardmember, you can register up to three credit or debit cards, including a jcp card, upon joining the program.

With qualifying purchases totaling $100 per month, a $10 reward certificate will be emailed to the shopper to use the following month. Gold card members can earn up to two rewards for spending $200 per month, and platinum card members can earn up to three rewards for spending $300 per month. Shoppers will also receive an email when their jcp rewards are about to expire.

Introducing Shops, free kids haircuts at salon

There are also some physical changes happening throughout stores. The retailer has widened aisles and hung fewer items on racks to make them easier for browsing.

Another recent addition are the “Shops,” which are brand-specific shopping areas within the store. Locally, the Valley View Mall location has 11 shops: MNG by Mango, Levi’s (for men and women), Arizona (for juniors and young men), I jeans by Buffalo, Liz Claiborne, Izod and jcp (for men and women).

And there might be one other coming soon: Sephora.

“Sephora has been discussed and is a possibility,” said Denise Gordon, Valley View store leader.

Gordon explained that by having Shops, which appear simply to be nice displays of select brands, J.C. Penney is hoping it will feel like a specialty department store. Each brand’s Shop is tailored to a specific style. Eventually, they hope, the entire store will be a collection of shops, making it easier for shoppers to find what they want.

By the end of 2013, J.C. Penney stores will have 40 Shops in stores nationwide and 100 by the end of 2015. The Valley View location is optimistic it will eventually have each Shop.

Some specialty areas of the store, like housewares, lingerie, shoes and children’s apparel, haven’t been affected yet by Shops, but Gordon said most every department will be touched by 2015.

While J.C. Penney’s salon will remain untouched, starting in November the promotion offering free haircuts for kids in kindergarten through sixth grade will return each Sunday.

Throughout October the salon will also be offering free cuts to breast cancer survivors in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

Shoppers sound off

Responses to the changes at the retailer have been mixed.

Taniko Belt of Roanoke has been a J.C. Penney shopper for at least 12 years and still loves it.

“There’s something for everyone in the family. I’m a mother and I love the clothing, the styles and the people who work here,” she explained while shopping there Tuesday morning. “And I love the prices, it’s all so affordable.”

Isaac Podyma of Bedford doesn’t shop often, but he likes the changes. He was also there Tuesday.

“I like that they put everything I like and need in one part of the store,” Podyma said.

However, he wasn’t too impressed with the prices. He also had trouble finding his size in the Shops, which featured many different styles but a limited number of sizes for each.

Several readers have commented on the Shoptimist blog about the changes. Many miss the coupons, and there seemed to be an age divide: young shoppers like the changes, while longtime customers do not.

Cary Ridgeway wrote: “No longer shop there anymore since they changed thingsâ? .Used to love the old JCP, don’t like the new one at all!”

Trish agreed: “I also shopped at JCP and it was my favorite but since they stopped the Door Busters on Saturday mornings and coupons I no longer shop there. The selection is poor and overpriced!”

Shanon doesn’t feel the store is for her anymore, commenting: “I very rarely shop there anymore. I used to get the majority of my wardrobe there, but since the changes, I can no longer find good deals. As a mom of 3, I’m always looking for bargains, which the old JCP had. The new JCP seems to be targeting the young professionals.â? I think they have created a lose-lose situation for themselves.”

Meanwhile, Amber is a new fan of the store. She wrote: “I had stayed away from JCP after reading all the negative comments in the first article. I recently went there and was pleasantly surprised. â? There are still plenty of bargains. I shop for my toddler and the prices at JCP now are cheaper than they used to be. They are also much cheaper than the other department stores for the same brands.”

Kristen agreed and wrote: “I like the new JC Penney. As a younger (mid-20s) shopper, I never shopped there before all the changes. There just wasn’t enough options for my taste in style. Now, I can find some really cute, stylish but not too trendy looks for half the price of what you would find at Macy’s.”

Unfortunately, the numbers aren’t on J.C. Penney’s side. According to a Sept. 24 article in Business Week, the company’s shares traded at $43.18 on Feb. 9 before hitting a year-low of $19.06 on July 18.

Additionally, in early September, Forbes reported that in the first six months of 2012 sales dropped 21.3 percent.

Will Shops, free haircuts and a revamped look get shoppers back in the store? Only time will tell, but Ron Johnson, chief executive officer of J.C. Penney, has high hopes.

In a news release Johnson said, “The back-to-school season presents the perfect opportunity to offer free haircuts for kids and unveil our new Shops, giving customers a first glimpse of what will soon be an entirely new retail experience. We know how important it is for kids to make a great first impression and with low prices every day, jcpenney is making it easier for parents to shop without having to wait for a sale.”

What do you think of the long-term plan for J.C. Penney? Do you plan to shop at the store?

I’ll be working on a follow-up story on JC Penney this week and I’d love to have some reader input.

When I covered the changes the retailer implemented last January and February (no more coupons, new spokesperson, changes in the way sales are done, etc.), folks had some pretty strong opinions.

So how are you feeling about the store these days? Have you gotten used to the changes? Do you like them or dislike them?

Note: Comments may be included in print at a later date.

Details are finally coming out about the new rewards program being offered by Walgreens.

With the new system you’ll earn points for every purchase you make in stores and online. You’ll also get points for other activities, like participating in the Walk with Walgreens program.

Points earned can then be cashed in for Redeption Dollars that can be used on products throughout the store. There’s even an app for iPhone and Android to help you track your points. Members can also scan their mobile devices at the register to earn points and savings and redeem awards without carrying around a plastic card.

Here’s the break down of the points system:
5,000 points = $5
10,000 points = $10
18,000 points = $20
30,000 points = $35
40,000 points = $50

The new program won’t take effect until September 16, but if you sign up early you’ll be entered to win 1 million points.

For more info, check out the video below or click here.

How do you feel about the changes being made at Walgreens?

Are cards worth the cost to you? I love finding a greeting card that's just right, but I love saving money on them even more.

After a recent column about the quirky things we all do to save a buck, I received multiple messages from readers about greeting cards. I personally love finding the perfect card for an occasion, but I do hate the cost involved. It’s common to find individual cards for $5 or more these days.

A reader named Michelle from Bedford lets her son draw her greeting cards. She wrote, “My son Jared age 10 enjoys drawing things on homemade cards that he knows is their favorite things to cheer them up or bring a smile. This past Mother’s Day he drew a card with butterflies since he knows butterflies are my favorite. He also likes to use construction paper to cut out designs and glue on the paper. It can be a fun together project as well.”

One reader had a humorous trick to share.

Jeri from Roanoke wrote, “I buy two cards at the Dollar Tree for each birthday, anniversary, Valentine. Since they lay them down and don’t pick them up, I take them and put them in an envelope. Then on that day, I give them one of them, then the next year, I give them the other one. Then put that one away. So each year they get a card from the year before and they never remember getting it. If they do, I just say oh I didn’t remember that, I just liked that card. You can keep doing this year after year.”

That’s one way to reduce, reuse and recycle.

Andrea of Fincastle has a special tradition with her husband on their anniversary: “My hubby and I do not exchange gifts to celebrate our wedding anniversary, but we do like to exchange anniversary cards. However, the price of greeting cards (the really nice, sentimental Hallmark-like cards) is really outrageous. So for last 20 years or so on our 8/16 anniversary, we have made our annual trip to Wal-Mart where we each search diligently to find the perfect card with the exact sentiment we wish to convey. My hubby’s goal is to bring tears to my eyes, which he has on more than one occasion. After we read one another’s chosen card, we simply put the cards back on the rack and walk away. HAPPY ANNIVERSARY, HONEY!!” she wrote.

If none of these solutions strikes your fancy, try out some of these tips:

* CVS, Target and Walgreens frequently provide coupons or run promotions on greeting cards. Sign up for Target’s mobile coupons and check out their website for printable coupons on cards. It’s also possible to break even by earning Extra Bucks or Register Rewards after the purchase from CVS and Walgreens.

* Hallmark and American Greetings provide coupons and promotions of their own from time to time. I’m a member of Hallmark Gold Crown Rewards and regularly receive coupons in the mail offering dollars off a purchase or free cards with purchase. Both card companies also post printable coupons on their Facebook pages and websites periodically.

* If you’re all about digital communication, there are tons of resources for free eCards. Evite by American Greetings is one of the most popular sites. It allows you to pick from a wide variety of invitations and greeting cards that can be sent with personalized messages. If you’re sending out invitations, the recipients can reply with yes, no or maybe and include a personal message for the host. Most digital options are free and you get to skip postage costs, making them especially attractive.

* Those of you with nice printers may be interested in print-at-home options. If you’re sending out 20 or more cards, the cost of ink can be a factor. But if you have a lone birthday card to send, this could work for you. American Greetings and Blue Mountain are two popular resources for pre-designed printables, but there are many other sites that also print cards. Etsy also offers various print-at-home options.

After graduating from college, I used cardstock and matching envelopes to create my own printable graduation party invitations. I chose a color I liked and designed my text on Microsoft Word. The process was simple, and with coupons regularly available for stores like Michaels, AC Moore and Joann Fabric, it was also inexpensive. If you’d like to add a little more flair to plain card stock, consider framing it with scrapbook paper or cutouts. All of these products can be found on clearance on a regular basis.

* It’s also possible to get free professionally printed cards. Websites such as Shutterfly, Cardstore, Snapfish, Treat and Tiny Prints regularly hold promotions offering free cards to new and current members. Each website also gives the user the power of personalization — choose your own text or add a photo. This option takes a little more research. Some sites require you to order select cards in bulk. Or if you want a free card, you’ll have to hunt for a promotion code.

* If you’re looking for something more instantaneous, photo postcards from stores such as Walgreens, CVS and Walmart can be a bargain if you seek out promotion codes or coupons. Each store regularly has promotions for online orders, which is very convenient if you have your photos uploaded to your computer, but there are also weekly deals in each store’s ad as well.

How do you save on greeting cards? Share your tips and tricks!

About 10 years ago, my dad came home from a yard sale with a rusty metal bed frame he bought for $3. And if you had asked me then, I would’ve said he paid $3 too much. But with some black spray paint and other basic handyman tools, he spruced up that cheap bed frame and it became one of my favorite pieces of furniture. Fast forward to today and you’ll find that same refurbished bed in my home.

Hidden treasures such as that bed can be found all over, but shopping yard sales can be a little tricky. It can take a lot of time to find what you’re looking for, especially when the newspaper is filled with dozens of sales each week.

Here are some tips on how you can become a savvy yard sale shopper:

* Bring plenty of change and small bills. You don’t want to haggle a price down to 50 cents and then hand over a $20 bill. Sellers may not have enough change for large bills.

* Bring your own shopping bags or boxes. This will help you keep your finds organized. Grouping items together is also a good way to find a deal, as many sellers love to get rid of items in bulk. Often a seller will accept one price for a whole box of goods.

* Always carry a tape measure. If you’re shopping for curtains, furniture, rugs or other merchandise, it’s wise to know exactly how much space you have to fill. Before loading up on these big purchases, you should make sure the items will fit in your space. Remember: You can’t return yard sale purchases.

* If you’re shopping for furniture, TVs, gym equipment or other large items, it’s also a good idea to carry rope to secure the merchandise in your vehicle. This will keep you from having to return later to pick up your finds. If you do have to leave and come back, write a receipt for your purchase and have the seller sign it. Then, take a piece of the product with you (like a cushion from a couch) to deter other buyers from offering the seller a higher price.

* Arrive early, but check back late. Early shoppers often find the best yard sale merchandise, but late shoppers often get the best deals. If you’re looking for something particular, especially if it’s a popular item, arrive at the beginning of the sale so you can lay claim to your deals. If you’re lukewarm on a product, check back close to the end of the sale and the seller may give you a bargain to avoid packing up the merchandise.

* When shopping for clothes, don’t know just the sizes you’re looking for, know the measurements as well. Clothes can get stretched out or shrink after multiple washes, so it’s best to measure arms and legs to see if they’ll fit. For shoes, trace your or your child’s foot on poster board and carry the cutout with you.

* When browsing yard sale ads, look for cues that are important to you, such as descriptions that merchandise is from a nonsmoking or pet-free home. This can be especially important for allergy sufferers.

* Check over toys and inside boxes — sometimes there are unwanted surprises. Even if the box of a product looks practically new, the product may not be in the same condition. Bugs are also something to look out for, especially in items with lots of nooks and crannies. Toys, especially older products, may not function correctly or may have missing pieces. It’s also a good idea to bring a few batteries to test toys and other battery-operated items. You also can ask the seller if you may plug in electronic items to see if they work.

* Ask the seller for their desired price, then provide a counteroffer — not the other way around. Naming your price first may lead to your paying more than the seller ever imagined to get. If the named price seems fair to you, don’t haggle too much.

* Read up on recalls, especially with baby items. The best resource for this information is the Consumer Product Safety Commission, which can be reached at 800-638-2772 or www.cpsc.gov. Cribs, car seats and toys are often recalled for important reasons. If this is the case, a child’s safety is not worth the money you could save.

* Start a conversation with the seller. If you are friendly, you might get a better deal.

* Don’t go overboard. It’s easy to have good intentions of fixing something up or upcycling it. But if those intentions are never put into action, you’ve wasted money. Consider the amount of work that will go into a project and how much the tools you need will cost before forking over the cash.

* Bring bubble wrap, newspapers or tissue paper for wrapping breakables. Sellers may not have these items on hand and you don’t want your purchase to break before you get it home.

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Here are some special reader-submitted finds:

An Eric Fitzpatrick painting was a steal at $25. In an email, Carol Mesimer of Franklin County explained that while she and two friends were together swapping yard sale items, one pulled out the acrylic painting. She jumped at the opportunity to make it hers when the seller asked if $25 was too much. “Now I have an Eric Fitzpatrick painting in my bedroom. Had to be my best yard sale find, EVER!” she wrote.

After unpacking her donations for the Roanoke Valley Parrot Head Club’s annual yard sale to raise money for Relay for Life, Julie Mowles of Salem said a fellow Parrot Head member found a letter dated 1949 and addressed to Helen Anderson, Afton Mountain, in a briefcase she had donated.
Mowles wrote, “I recognized my dad’s handwriting. Folded neatly inside the envelope for 60 years was a very romantic love letter from my dad, Frank Williams, to my mother during a separation in their courtship. My sisters and I never knew my dad to show a lot of affection. This letter showed us a side of him we never knew. We don’t [know] why the letter was in his briefcase, or how we overlooked it. It is a family treasure now.” Frank Williams passed away 11 years ago today.

Phyllis Van Eps of Roanoke found two rolls of screen for only $10 each. “I just screened in my back porch and have plenty left to do the front porch!” she wrote.

Maruma and Jim Warren of Roanoke shopped in what they refer to as the “heyday of yard sales” in the 1980s and ’90s. Retired now, the couple love to reminisce about all of their finds, many of which furnish their current home. One table has always been a favorite. Maruma Warren wrote, “This poor thing was painted white, beat up on the top, but the lines were good, it was nice and heavy, so for $10 we took it home, refinished it back to the beautiful walnut [including all the nooks and crannies in the legs]. We use it by our sofa to this day. One of our daughters-in-law has put her name underneath so everyone knows it belongs to her someday.”

This doll was rescued by Nancy Kamwell of Fincastle after hearing it — the doll makes a distinctive laughing noise — at two different yard sales. Kamwell wrote, “We heard raucous laughter and finally located the sound. It came from a doll priced at $.50. Too funny. We said how effective it would be to respond to telemarketers. We didn’t buy it. We talked about it as we drove away and were remorseful to have missed out. The folks collecting the money said everything not sold would be donated to the Kiwanis for their yard sale.
A week later we went to a yard sale at the VFW Building held by Kiwanis. Lo and behold, we heard our doll again. After a search, we found it on the $1 table.”

To plan your weekend yard sale route, check out www.roanoke.com/yardsales. Then, share your yard sale tips below.

Yard sales are great outlets for do-it-yourselfers looking for projects, collectors searching for hidden treasures and everday people hunting for bargains.

This summer I’m on a search for a funky chair I can reupholster — you can bet I’ll be hitting multiple yardsales to find what I’m looking for.

I’m also looking for your special finds. Have you ever found something that took you right back to your childhood? How about a major collectible for near nothing?

I’d love to feature your favorite yard sale finds in a future story, so tell me about them! Leave a comment below describing your favorite yard sale finds, and if you have any photos I’d love to see those, too.

Also, if you haven’t done so yet, check out our yard sale map. As we get closer to the weekend the map will be updated with all of the local yardsales, including a description of each.

Most of the time when we hear the phrase “buyer incentives,” it’s related to large purchases such as a house or a car. For those bigger investments, you sometimes can get a tax break, a special deal on your loan or some sort of cash back reward for making payments early. But flip through retail ads today and you’ll see that stores are offering buyer incentives on just about anything.

Sometimes, however, it means the buyer spends more upfront.

I don’t know anyone who would argue with a sale price. But when it comes to having to buy a product to save in the long run, things get tricky.

For example, both Kohl’s and CVS are popular retailers in our area who offer their own store rewards for select purchases.

Kohl’s offers Kohl’s Cash throughout the year when shoppers spend a certain amount. After the cash is earned, shoppers can return at a later date to use the “cash” on future purchases.

CVS has a similar deal. Shoppers earn Extra Bucks for spending a certain amount on selected products each week. These “bucks” can be used in future shopping trips.

If you are a regular shopper at a store that offers these incentives, they can be very rewarding. I’m in a cycle of shopping at CVS because I prefer to make short shopping trips when what I need is on sale as opposed to big Walmart trips. Even though the normal prices at CVS are higher than those at Walmart, I save 50 percent to 75 percent on each shopping trip thanks to my coupons and Extra Bucks.

However, if you’re enticed to pick up a product at one of these stores because of the rewards you receive with a purchase even though you rarely shop there, think twice. For retailers, part of the appeal of these incentives is that many shoppers will forget to use their rewards or not bother to return. Then you really haven’t gotten a deal at all.

Similar promotions also can be found at Target, which regularly offers free gift cards with selected purchases. The plus side to receiving a gift card with purchase is that it won’t expire like store “cash,” which usually is valid for only a month or less.

Then there is the best kind of incentive, which most of us see as an old-fashioned sale. For many shoppers, there’s not much better than a sign that reads “buy one, get one free.” The free product is indeed an incentive, but the reward is immediate.

Similar deals include “buy one at regular price, get one for a dollar,” or “buy one, get one half-off.” You may not have thought of these purchases as incentives in the past, but it’s important to start doing so to really see the value in what you’re buying.

Do you have a preference when shopping? Are you often enticed by rewards after purchase, or have you been burned by them in the past?

There’s just something about seeing tiny handprints that mothers love.

Maybe it’s the way that they freeze time, or maybe it’s the endless amount of crafts that can be made with handprints and just a few supplies.

With Mother’s Day coming up on Sunday, giving her a homemade gift that’ll be a keepsake is one way to include the kids in making Mom’s day special. There’s a lot more to make out of handprints than Thanksgiving turkeys. Here are a few suggestions for hands-on Mother’s Day gifts.

Courtesy of The Craft Crow.

Wreath: Pick out a few springy colors of construction paper to transform this classic Christmas activity.

Cut out handprints, arrange them in a circle with the fingers facing outward and glue them together. Layer the handprints for a fuller wreath, or stick to a single circle if you’re working with especially small hands. To accent the wreath add a bow or let the kids draw their own special doodles on the hands.

Canvas: Plain canvases can be perked up by allowing your child to take hold of them.

Paint the canvas a solid color and let it dry. Then, paint your child’s hand a

Courtesy of babygadget.net.

contrasting color and have them leave a print. A single handprint in the middle is eye-catching, but smaller kids would also enjoy making a collage of prints in various colors on a single canvas. You also could have everyone in the household make their own canvas and create a family tree of prints.

A nice size canvas for this project is 10-by-10 inches, and the canvas boards will only cost you about $6 apiece.

Frames: A similar project can be done with construction paper, paint and picture frames.

Courtesy of Cafe Press.

Cut the paper to the size of a frame — 4-by-6 inches or 5-by-7 inches work best — and place a handprint in the center. Using dark paper and metallic paint is an easy way to embellish the simple project. Once the paint is dry, place the paper in the frame and wrap it up for Mom.

Totes: Canvas tote bags are simple gifts that can be easily customized by children, plus you can find them at craft stores for about $5.

With some fabric paint, handprints can be left in designs, such as flowers (you’ll need to paint a dot in the center and a stem), caterpillars (upside down handprints in a row with a plain circle as the head),

Courtesy of paintcutpaste.com.

or as single prints with your child’s name and the year underneath. This is one of the more functional crafts that kids can create and it’s sure to embarrass them down the road when Mom is still carrying the bag.

Flowerpot: Flowers are a classic Mother’s Day gift, but you can make this gift a little more personal by letting your child paint the flowerpot. Leaving a contrasting handprint with the date written underneath adds character and creates an instant keepsake.

Courtesy of celebrations.com.

In lieu of flowers, kids can cut out construction-paper handprints, attach them to straws and stand them up in the pot. A grown-up or sibling can help them by writing things they love about Mom on each hand. When she’s ready to use the pot for planting, Mom can remove the hand “flowers” and have a bouquet.

Kitchen accessories: For moms who love to cook, a personalized set of dish towels, potholders or an apron could be the perfect gift. You just need some fabric paint.

For an apron, consider making the handprints “flowers” and let the kids paint stems from the bottom of the apron up. Use a paint pen or permanent marker to add the date and/or names if desired. Look for towels or potholders in the

Courtesy of classroomtalk.com.

clearance section, where you usually can find them for $5 or less. Plain aprons can be found at craft stores for $10 or less.

Kids don’t stay little for long, so moms are sure to love these gifts that will remind them how small their children once were.

Do you still have handprint crafts from when your kids were young? What’s your favorite handprint craft for kids?

Kohl's opened in Hunting Hills Plaza last September. Photo by Jeanna Duerscherl, The Roanoke Times.

Last week when I heard that there’s a possibility of Ulta moving into Valley View Mall, I was ecstatic — Ulta has been high on my list of stores I’ve always hoped would find their way to Roanoke. The retailer specializes in beauty products for everyone’s price range. You can find Covergirl and Smashbox cosmetics in the same location, for example.

Roanoke and its surrounding areas have stepped up their retail and restaurant game in the past few years. We’ve seen Kohl’s, Chipotle, McAlister’s Deli, Coldwater Creek, Build-A-Bear Workshop, Chico’s and a few specialty stores such as Bare Escentuals and Oliveto all move in.

Of course, we’ve also suffered a few losses with the closing of Ukrop’s and Five Guys Burgers and Fries. And then there are those close calls, such as Whole Foods tempting us by checking out the old Ukrop’s location.

So, let’s take a look back at the list of desired stores and restaurants that came out of Roanoke city’s website myretailroanoke.com, which launched in 2007 and asked residents to vote on which retailers they’d most like to see in our area.

Topping that list was Kohl’s, which successfully opened in September 2011 in Hunting Hills Plaza. Behind Kohl’s, the top five chains residents were most eager to see included IKEA, Cheesecake Factory, Trader Joe’s, Chili’s Grill & Bar and Costco. Crate & Barrel, Pottery Barn, Banana Republic and Nordstrom rounded out the list.

Of those remaining items on the wish list, I’d love to see a Trader Joe’s, Chili’s, Pottery Barn and Banana Republic. I can imagine them being the most successful for our demographic.

 After hearing the news about Ulta, I went to the store’s website (www.ulta.com) and signed up for the rewards program. This may sound a little too eager, but the retailer routinely sends out coupons and special offers to members. I figure that by the time the new store opens I’ll have my first coupon waiting in my mailbox. You can bet I’d do the same for the other retailers above should they decide to make a home in our area.

It has now been five years since the survey on myretailroanoke.com (the website has since been disconnected). Is there anything you would change on the list? What does your wish list for the Roanoke Valley contain in 2012?

Yesterday Stephanie Ogilvie, dayside delivery editor and leader of the engagement team for the redesign of roanoke.com, posted on the RefreshRT blog about reader comments.

She covers what we envision our role to be in the commenting process, as well as ways we’ve brainstormed to get your voice heard (via our Facebook page, Twitter and, of course, blog comments).

Now that we’re in the midst of a redesign for the website, we’re curious what you think about all of this. How do you prefer your voice be heard? What do you like or dislike about our commenting system?

I know I’ve heard of some people having issues with our CAPTCHA code, while others don’t like having to wait for their comment to get approved.

Here are some specifics Stephanie asks in her blog post:

1. What do you like/not like on other websites that allow comments?

2. If given the choice, would you post anonymous comments? Or use your Facebook/Twitter account to share your thoughts? Why?

3. What other ways would you like to engage with us? For example, would you participate in live chats with reporters/editors/photographers on particular stories? Any other ideas?

Share your answers in the comments section, or head over the RefreshRT blog and join the conversation there.

Thanks to all the blog readers who joined the conversation we had about this a couple weeks ago — your input was great!

Coupons aren’t only for groceries and cleaning products, you can find them now for just about anything — including restaurants, spas to theme parks.

So with Valentine’s Day approaching, the question of etiquette when using coupons on a date popped into my mind.

I’m not sure what Miss Manners would say, but it’s a topic that most people have a pretty firm stance on. Some would be offended that their date was being cheap, while others feel it shows a person’s smarts when it comes to saving.

Personally, I fall into the latter category (shocker, I know). When I asked blog readers how they felt about the topic, the response was generally positive and most cited the economy as a major factor.

With the popularity of Groupon and other daily deal websites, it seems like coupons have adopted a certain “coolness” factor — almost as if people forget that these discounted vouchers are in fact coupons.

Many of these deals are “two-for” or require a minimum to be spent, often too much for one person, so they are ideal for couples. Blog reader Jamie suggested using one of these deals as an icebreaker to ask someone out on a date. Her suggested phrasing: “ ‘I have a great daily deal I’ve been wanting to use but it works better for two people. Do you want to go with me?’ ”

Other readers suggested holding off on using coupons on the first date, even if they support using them down the road. Reader Other John commented, “Once there’s more of an established relationship and the other person has an idea that you like using coupons and saving money, then sure … go for it.”

However, reader Mike said your date’s response to using coupons could be a red flag.

“Knowing what I do now, I would probably use one just to see how the girl reacted. If she is too much of a princess that it would bother her for me to be wise with my hard-earned money, then it would show me I was dating the wrong person to start with,” he pointed out.

From the comments, it seemed like married couples enjoyed using coupons on their dates, especially those with big families. Reader Shanon “Nurse Snow” bragged that she and her husband get a rush from saving money, while reader Meghan explained that with one child and one on the way, she’s more than happy to clip a coupon for their rare dates.

So where do you stand? Is using a coupon on a date smart or is it a big no-no?

If you’re not ashamed to show off your savings, check out the Sweetheart Deals on Roanoke.com. These daily deals will be available through Feb. 13 and offer discounts on massages, dance lessons, photography sessions and dining for 50 percent off or better.

What would your reaction be if your date pulled out a coupon? Photo courtesy of sloawkward.com.

Valentine’s Day is coming up quickly, and each year couples flock to local restaurants, movie theaters and other dating hotspots.

Since the rise of daily deals, the argument about the use of coupons on dates has grown louder on both sides.  Some passionately believe using coupons on a date is a big no-no, while others have no problem with it. I’m sure in the coming weeks there will be many opportunities to buy “date packages” on many of these sites, but should they really be used?

I personally wouldn’t have a problem with the use of a coupon (surprise, surprise), but would think of it as smart spending on my date’s behalf. I can see how it has the potential to make a first date, when you’re not entirely familiar with each other yet, awkward.

So, how do you feel about the issue? Do you have a problem with your date using a coupon when it comes to paying the bill?
Or, maybe you wouldn’t have a problem with it as long as the coupon didn’t come out on the first date (a common answer for many).

It should be interesting to see if there are any vast differences among age groups and genders.

Give me your thoughts, opinions and scenarios. They just might help me out with a column in the near future.