Shopping for Wine Online

    From Amazon to EBay, there are hundreds of sites where one can shop for wine online.  The problem is not the availability, it is weeding through the masses in order to determine the best fit for the need. What site offers the most robust variety? What site or sites has prices that are conducive to my budget? How can I avoid paying $100 for a bottle that is only worth $10?

    Find yourself asking these questions and running to your local store for a wine that no longer excites your pallet?  Retail stores do account for the vast majority of wine sales, but that is due to the ignorance surrounding shopping for wine online coupled with the lack of trust in online retailers (this is due in part to most have only been in business for less than 10 years).

     Just as with a brick and mortar wine retailer, cheap is not always the best choice; nor are flashy bells and whistles.  Do not allow yourself to be drawn into purchase simply because a sight is plastered with seals, symbols and crests.  The vast majority of these have disclaimers at the bottom informing you that they are not approved, recommended, by etc.  It is just an eye-catching form of advertising.  The very best in the industry are viewed as such due to a perfect combination of personal touch, variety of inventory and pricing.

Top Online Wine Retailers

Tasting Room à Known for their low pricing as well as their ability to sell full sized and sample sized (the precise amount that would be enjoyed at a wine tasting) bottled and sampler packs.  The sampler packs are of mixed variety and allow wine lovers to explore new tastes at the leisure from home. 

Half Wit Wines à Offers 1200 wines in half bottles.  This site is not pretty to look at, but is perfect for those that only desire (or need) half bottles of wine.

Accidental Wine Company à Think of them as the scratch and dent online retailer of wine.  Smudge on the label? Vintage of 1 or 2 years? Accidental will sell it to you.  It’s not what they bottle looks like, it’s what is inside; and a great bottle of wine exceeds any aesthetic. 

Monger Wines à Dedicated to the sale of artisanal wines, Monger is the perfect place for the discerning and highly evolved pallet.  The company began as an Australian wine retailer and has since expanded to include Italy and a subset of Californian vineyards. 

Bottle Rocket à Offers incredible customer service as well as wine tips.  Need to know what wine will properly compliment a meal? Bottle Rocket can tell you.  This is a very out-of-the-box site.  Offering customers a unique voyage as they browse for their perfect bottle.

      Shopping for wine online can be a delightful but daunting journey; but at the end of the day, you will have what your heart desires…wine.  There will be no standing in long lines, no engaging in tastings that you would prefer to bypass, simply a wine that you chose in your hands.  Rather on your own or with the help of tools that assist in finding the best wine for you, shopping for wine online will bring the perfect wine straight to your door.  

Couponing at Target

     Many people do not automatically think about couponing when it comes to Target because of their discounted prices; but you should.  Target is actually one of the BEST places to coupon at.  You are able to stack coupons and maximize your savings.  The following tips will help you stock up your cabinets and desires while leaving plenty of cash in your pockets. 

Download the Cartwheel App

This Target app offers additional savings on various products throughout the store.  While shopping, you can scan the barcode of an item in order to determine if an additional savings is offered.  Also, if your phone is not Wi-Fi enabled, you can print a barcode Cartwheel card from home, laminate it and show it at checkout for your savings. 

Stack your Coupons

This means that you can use a manufacturer coupon along with an in store coupon.  Coupon stacking can also be used in conjunction with Cartwheel offers as well. 

Know the Markdown Schedule

Coupons can be used in conjunction with markdown prices at Target.  Before venturing out for your next shopping adventure, know the schedule.  It is as follows:

·        Monday – Girls, boys, infants, and electronics

·        Tuesday – Women’s and juniors

·        Wednesday – Men’s, food, stationary, health and laundry

·        Thursday- sleepwear, athletics, pet, housewares, paper, shoes, and toys

·        Friday – domestics, auto, scarves, beauty, and  jewelry

Sign up for coupons via text

Each Saturday, Target sends out coupons via text message.  Do not miss out on the deals. Simply text coupons (or baby) to 827438. 

Know the price cuts

Target offers two types of price cuts.  The first is a permanent price cut, the new displayed price will not revert back after a set time limit.  The second type is a temporary price cut; which last between 7-14 days. 

Price Matching

If you know that an item is less expensive elsewhere, simply take the item to guest services and they will confirm the lower price and ensure that you receive the item for the lower amount.  Additionally, coupons can be used in conjunction with price matching.  

Get Rain checks

If you find that a sale item has been sold out, take a picture of the shelf tag.  The shelf tag contains the DPCI code and the picture you take will make it easy and non-time consuming when requesting your rain check and they can be requested and received at any register.  Please note that rain checks will look like an additional receipt, therefore store separately and make note of the date received.  Rain checks are good for 45 days. 

Reusable Bags Credit

When you bring your own bags, you receive a $0.05 credit for each bag used at checkout. 

Utilize Rebate Apps

There are great apps that will give you cash back or gift cards once you scan (or take a picture of) your receipt. 

·        Ibotta – Allows you to scan your receipt, choose the deals that you want to “cash in” and receive cash back on your purchase

·        Check out 51 – upload your receipt and receive cash back on various items that you purchased.  Payments are released in $20 increments. 

·        Punchcard – allows you to upload pictures of your receipts for points that can be cashed in for gift cards or merchandise

·        Receiptpal – Enters you into sweepstakes for cash and prizes

·        Endorse - Allows you to scan your receipt, choose the deals that you want to “cash in” and receive cash back on your purchase or make a charitable donation.

Four Ways to Use Thanksgiving Leftovers

     With the holidays approaching, there is a lot of excitement in the air.  People anxious to reunite with relatives from afar.  Recipe boxes being dusted off in order to ensure that family favorites are on the table.  But what happens in the days following the holidays? What to do with the plethora of leftovers that are taking up valuable space in your fridge? How to you get your family from becoming bored with turkey and all the fixings?

    The following are great ideas on how to re-invent your Thanksgiving turkey leftovers that will excite the pallets of all within your household without sending you to culinary arts school. There is also absolutely no reason to break the bank to feed your family following the holiday.  Use your leftovers are the primary ingredients to some very simple and easy recipe ideas and save money while satisfying the family.

     Turkey is a very versatile meat, and that should be kept in mind as you think about how to best utilize the country’s coveted dinner bird.

Homemade Turkey Soup

     Make the most of what is left of your turkey no matter how much or how little.  Simply simmer (2 hours) the turkey bones in order to get the rich flavor.  From there, remove the remaining meat, add rice, vegetables and cream soup.  Within a matter of minutes, you will have a hearty and cost effective meal for you family.

Cheddar Turkey Casserole

     Add your Thanksgiving turkey leftovers with a creamy cheese sauce and vegetables for a tummy pleasing meal.

·        Ingredients

o   4 cups uncooked spiral pasta

o   1 garlic clove, minced

o   3 tablespoons of butter

o   3 tablespoons of all-purpose flour

o   1 teaspoon salt

o   ¼ teaspoon mustard

o   ¼ teaspoon dried thyme

o   ¼ teaspoon pepper

o   2 cups 2% milk

o   1 ½ cups shredded cheese

o   2 cups turkey

o   2 cups frozen vegetables

o   ½ cup slivered almonds

·        Directions

o   Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Cook pasta per package instructions.

o   In a large saucepan, sauté garlic in butter until tender.  Stir in flour, salt, mustard, thyme and pepper. Gradually stir in milk. Bring to a boil; cook and stir 2 minutes or until thickened. Remove from heat; stir in cheese until melted. Drain pasta and add.

Stuffing Crust Pot Pie

     This is a way for you to re-invent the majority of the leftovers in your fridge.  Use your remaining stuffing, vegetables, turkey and mashed potatoes.  This is a budget conscious way to spice up the leftovers from Thanksgiving.

Turkey a la King

·        Ingredients

o   2 tablespoons butter

o   1-3/4 cups of mushrooms

o   1 celery rib, chopped

o   ¼ cup onion, chopped

o   ¼ cup green pepper, chopped

o   ¼ cup all-purpose flour

o   1 cup chicken broth

o   1 cup milk

o   2 cups turkey breast

o   1 cup frozen peas

o   ½ teaspoon salt

o   2 cups cooked rice

·        Directions

o   In a large nonstick skillet, heat butter over medium-high heat.  Add mushrooms, celery, onion and pepper; cook and stir until tender.

• In a small bowl, mix flour and broth until smooth; stir into vegetable mixture. Stir in milk. Bring to a boil; cook and stir 1-2 minutes or until thickened. Add turkey, peas and salt; heat through. Serve with rice. Yield: 4 servings.

    With these meal suggestions, there is no need to stick to grandma’s method of making countless turkey sandwiches with your leftover Thanksgiving turkey.  Allow yourself to be as creative as you are on any other night of the year for the days following the holiday.  Do not reserve yourself from amazing your family on the holiday alone.  Fill their bellies and delight their taste buds with new meals each night with the leftovers from America’s favorite meal.