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Looking for something to do this holiday weekend? See our picks for some fun local events.
Seniors can find many ways to save
Discounts for senior citizens are fairly common but unfortunately rarely advertised. I had to do some major digging to get details for this column. Often the information wasn’t listed online or posted in shops, so what’s the average consumer supposed to do? I recommend you ask — ask everywhere you do business. Part of the reason some businesses don’t widely post their discounts or offers for seniors is that they
Sales are springing up
Spring is here and that means your opportunities to shop are even more plentiful. Yard sales, flea markets, sidewalk sales and open houses are popping up everywhere. Locally, you can count on a few big events year after year and new prospects to explore as well. Hit the road this weekend or mark your calendars now for these shopping events: This weekend the J. Crew warehouse in Lynchburg is hosting
You can trim costs at the hair salon
To be perfectly , I don’t enjoy getting my hair cut. Even though it’s a necessity of life, I usually get stressed out by the process: making the appointment, blocking out time, worrying if my cut and style will look right, pulling out my debit card for the inevitable bill — it’s just not my favorite way to spend an afternoon. Luckily, I’ve learned a few ways to cut corners
Save on Salem Red Sox tickets; find other baseball deals
We're finally getting some warm weather just in time for the boys of summer to hit the field. The Salem Red Sox opened its home season Friday night against the Myrtle Beach Pelicans, and there's a long season ahead (the last Sox game will be at home on Sept. 2), so you have plenty of opportunities coming up to catch a game. What makes the start of baseball season even
Cash in on your electronics purge
I always have a hard time parting with my old electronics. Whether it’s a cellphone, laptop or point-and-shoot camera, it’s hard to forget that at one time they were all valuable items. But keeping broken or outdated technology around doesn’t do any good. Luckily, we have plenty of options for recycling or getting cash for these items. Sell If you’re trying to make a little money off of your electronics
Got debt? Need a budget? There’s an app for that.
It’s easy to lose sight of your spending and debt when so many payments are automatically drafted and carrying cash is nearly obsolete. With most banks moving away from paper statements, you could go for months without seeing what’s going into and coming out of your bank account each day. That makes it tough to stick to a budget. With the help of some online tools, though, you can sort
50 ways to please an egg hunt lover
As a kid, I loved Easter egg hunts. Running around outside in the early spring weather, or inside if it was rainy spring weather, hunting for brightly colored eggs was always exciting . On Easter morning, the bunny always stuffed my eggs with some chocolate and special treats, but the egg hunts were all about who could gather the most — bragging rights were very important, as most of the
Free or cheap magazine deals can pay off
After a great discussion on the Shoptimist blog a few weeks ago about the popularity of e -books , I realized that there are ways to save on other reading material too, like magazines. Whether you prefer to read your magazines on an e -reader or the old-fashioned paper form, there are tons of ways to get subscriptions for free or cheap. Personally, I subscribe to four different magazines, none
The Shoptimist’s new Twitter account alerts you to best deals
How much can you really learn from reading 140 characters? Well, if you follow the right Twitter feeds, the pay-off can be very valuable. If you're not familiar with Twitter, it's a social media site that allows users to post messages to their followers in 140 characters (which includes letters, spaces and punctuation) or fewer. Due to the limited space , users can get important information and usually a link
J.C. Penney keeps working through the changes
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 . I t’s the same idea other department stores follow: sections for national
How small households can make couponing worthwhile
The hype around extreme couponing seems to have slowed recently, maybe because shoppers are returning to their normal habits, especially those who are only shopping for one or two. That’s the category I fall into. As a 20-something woman who only shop s for myself and the occasional visitor, I have certain items I keep back-ups of and hunt for certain coupons, but I don’t have (or need) an entire
Retail Roundup: Former teacher to open bookshop
A former English teacher-turned-salesman is marrying his two professions by opening a used bookstore in Roanoke’s Wasena neighborhood. Steve Padgett plans to open The Main Street Bookworm within a month, he said. The small shop sits on Main Street near the Brandon Avenue intersection in a space that is familiar to Padgett. His mother operated a dog grooming business in the building for 30 years. (The business was sold to
Retail Roundup: Bookstore manager ponders new chapter
There is still hope that Roanoke will once again see an independent book store selling new releases. Christine Hastings , longtime manager of the former Ram's Head Book Shop at Towers Shopping Center, is still working toward opening a smaller version of the store that closed more than a year ago. "I haven't given up," Hastings said. "It's just been a little more challenging than I thought." Ram's Head closed
Check out these eBook options
Just as we’ve seen iPods and mp3s replace CD players and CDs over the past decade, eBooks and eReaders have grown in popularity. Whether you have a Kindle, a Nook or an iPad, it’s not necessary to spend a bundle on reading material. You also don’t necessarily need a tablet. It’s possible to download the programs associated with these eReaders on most mobile devices and computers. I asked Shoptimist blog
Retail Roundup: Nopales to open in Grandin Village
An established Roanoke restaurateur plans to open a Mexican-Caribbean eatery this spring in Grandin Village, across the street from his current restaurant. Rocky Byrd, who with his wife has owned and operated Rockfish Food and Wine on Grandin Road since 2005, will open the new restaurant, Nopales, where Surf 'n Turf closed in December. “Grandin Village needs some ethnic food,” Byrd said. Byrd named the restaurant after a cactus that
Off-brands can be right on the money
We all have certain brands that we’re loyal to no matter what, but bargain shoppers also love the prices that are associated with generic products. By stacking coupons and taking advantage of sale prices, it’s possible to get big brand names for cheap, or even free, but it may not be necessary to go through all that work. Based on my personal experience and those of the testers at Wisebread
Retail Roundup: Jack Brown’s to open in the spring
A landmark eatery in downtown Roanoke has closed, but the restaurant won’t be empty for long. A Harrisonburg burger and beer restaurant, Jack Brown’s, is already busy getting the former Ernie’s space on Market Street ready for an early spring opening. Jack Brown’s is known for its signature burgers, deep-fried Oreos and selection of 100 beers. That’s what drew John Nielsen , a commercial real estate broker with Thalhimer, to
Valentine’s Day values to love
We’re only on the second day of February, so you’ve got plenty of time to shop for Valentine’s Day. Right? That may not be so. Stores are flipping inventory earlier than ever, so unless you’re strictly looking for the cheapest deals, now is the time to start shopping around. Shopping around Most stores already have Valentine’s Day-themed candy and gifts on sale or clearance. It’s the perfect time to shop
Retail Roundup: Frances Kahn celebrates 30 years
Tucked away inside a Tanglewood-area shopping center, a high-end speciality clothing store, Frances Kahn, has been serving customers for 30 years. “We’ve dressed three generations,” said assistant store manager Andrea Dixon , who has been with the company for 27 years, 16 of them at the Roanoke store. Store manager Rose Stavale has worked at the Roanoke store for 25 years. Frances Kahn opened at Roanoke County’s Grand Pavilion in
Gift cards keep money cycling throughout downtown
Gift cards have long been a standby for family members, friends and coworkers who are tough to shop for or whose birthdays are suddenly around the corner. Unfortunately, that $50 Amazon gift card isn’t doing anything to support the local economy. An option exists for local residents now: the Downtown Roanoke gift card. Introduced shortly before Christmas by Downtown Roanoke Inc. , the card is accepted at numerous businesses throughout
1. Botetourt County shooting victim tried to start 'new chapter in her life' amid divorce
2. Virginia Tech advances to ACC baseball title game; awaits winner of UNC-NC State
3. FloydFest mourns integral member
4. Roanoke clerk says convenience store robbed at gunpoint Friday
5. Virginia Tech professor gets hand with TV cooking show audition
6. Retail, apartment project breaks ground in Roanoke
7. Restaurant slated to open in downtown Roanoke in mid-June
8. Roanoke police seek man missing from retirement home
9. Man pleads no contest in Roanoke Molotov cocktail attack
10. Police seek suspect in Vinton robbery that led to school lockdowns
THE ROANOKE TIMES
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