Missed the boat on Cyber Monday? Don’t fret! The CheapStuff Team surfed around the web in search of best laptop deals out there.

So was the search a success? You bet. Below are some great bargains on laptops, with discounts as high as $400! If you like what you see, be sure to grab ‘em quick, because these deals are not going to last.

1. Dell Inspiron Dell Inspiron 17R 17.3-in Intel 2nd Gen Core i7 Quad-core Laptop w/6GB RAM & 2GB NVIDIA Graphics – $824.99 from $1,293.99 (You save $469)

This 17-inch notebook got raving reviews for its vibrant and bright display. It’s equipped with a 1600 x 900 screen with a second generation Intel Core i5-2410M CPU, as well Nvidia GeForce GT525M graphics card—great for gamers! It also has a Blu-ray player for those who want to watch their movies in super high quality even when they’re on the go. Want to personalize it? You can swap out the lid for a color or design of your choice.

2. Toshiba Satellite L750 15-inch – $399.99

Described as “eye catching” by CNET, this device received a rating of 8.3. The L750 boasts of an AMD Quad-Core A6-3400M, Radeon HD 6520G. In non-techie terms, that’s a pretty decent processor, especially for its price now. In terms of storage, the laptop has a perfectly respectable 640GB internal hard drive, and 4GB of DDR3 memory. CNET tested device’s battery by disabling all battery-saving measures, setting up the screen to its brightest, and playing a full-screen video on loop the whole time. The result? 3 hours and 42 minutes. Not too shabby, don’t you think?

3. HP dv4t 14-inch – $499.99 from $599.99 (You save $150)

According to LaptopMag.com, the HP dv4t is a “notebook designed for entertainment seekers who want to stay productive and amused on the go.” It has responsive touchscreen controls and comes with MediaSmart, a software that allows users to quickly get to their photos, videos, and music. The downside?  It apparently has a relatively thick design, and a not-so-stellar battery life. If you can get around that issue though, this notebook proves that it delivers good  value for its price.

4. Acer Aspire S3 Ultrabook 13-inch – $799.99 from $899.99 (Save $100)

This Ultrabook may not have the sleekest design of all, with majority of the device being plastic, but according to Ars Technica, “it’s a solid performer with a good keyboard and trackpad, and great battery life—a combination that’s been a rare find so far.” If you’re looking for a responsive trackpad that supports multi-touch functions, then you’re going to love this device. It allows two-finger scrolling as well as pinch to zoom. Additionally, it’s pretty easy to type on  and doesn’t put a lot of stress into your fingers. Its display fares well even with sunlight, and is evenly lit albeit “cool, blue cast to it.” In terms of power, this laptop has a great battery life that can last up 6 hours of continuous battery life and a 50 days of standby.

Image credit: Môsieur J. [version 5.9a] on Flickr

One of the best things about clothes is that everyone needs them. Clothing items make great presents for friends, relatives, and even yourself! However, when it comes to shopping for clothes, a lot of people, (ladies, we’re looking at you) tend to go overboard with the spending. All those sales and clearance items can add up, and if you’re not careful, you could end up with a not-so-pleasant surprise when you see your credit card bill.

Thankfully, there are still some stores out there that understand that impeccable style doesn’t have to come with an outrageously high price tag. The CheapStuff Team decided to give all you fashionistas a treat by rounding up stores that offer fantastic clothing deals. Check out these establishments that offer stylish clothing items for less:

1. 599fashion – This is definitely a crowd favorite. 599fashion is well-known for its ridiculously low prices. Customers have reported buying items that are usually priced at $15 for just $5.99. You’ll be able to find clothing items from stores such as Forever 21, Express, and Charlotte Russe for much lower prices. So what’s their secret? One word: WHOLESALE. 599fashion buys directly from wholesale suppliers, without requiring customers to buy in bulk.

2. Styles for Less – This is a boutique that makes every trendsetter smile. As its name indicates, this  store has a wide selection of clothing items at very reasonable prices. Styles for Less offers fashion forward clothes in just about every category, including casual, office, sporty, and semi-formal wear. Choose from a variety of tops, denims, dresses, and sweaters. This store doesn’t stop at clothes, though. You can also purchase handbags, shoes, and jewelry from their stores. Styles for Less also has a great VIP policy for their loyal customers. All VIP card holders get a 10% discount on their regular priced items. As an added bonus, during the month of your birthday, you can get a 20% discount on your first purchase for that month. Styles for Less has over 130 stores and has branches located in Arizona, California, Nevada, Florida, Texas, and Utah. Don’t see your state? You can still shop through their website!

3.  Kohl’s – Alright, so this department store sells items way beyond clothes, but Kohl’s is part of this list because of the store’s great clothing section. Every Kohl’s store boasts of numerous clothes for women, teens, men, and babies. But what’s great about them is that they’re so generous when it comes to sales. The company holds sales several times a year, customers actually lose count. Moreover, the “Kohl’s Cash” program is truly a godsend for shopaholics. Customers can earn Kohl’s cash in stores, at kiosks, or online during events that run periodically. The promo works by giving customers $10 worth of Kohl’s Cash for every $50 spent. The coupon value increases with each $50 purchase. This means that if you spend $100, $150, or $200, you can get $20, $30, $40 worth of Kohl’s cash that can eligible to purchase regular, sale, and clearance items.

Image credit: Noemi Manalang on Flickr

Think all office supply chains are all the same?  Think again. While you may find the same categories of goods across all stores, office supply chains differ in terms of their prices, shipping procedures, customer service, and return policies. These differences may depend on your location or the products that you’re purchasing, and sometimes, if you want to catch great deals on cheap office supplies, it’s best to compare the cost of items by visiting the suppliers’ websites.

In any case, the Cheap Stuff Team did some research on some of the top office supply stores in the US. Check out our findings below:

1. Staples – We found that Staples offers the lowest prices when it comes to the most common office supplies such as pens and papers. Staples has moderate prices when it comes to lunch room supplies, computer equipment (mouse, keyboard), and office furniture.

However, the company has a price match guarantee wherein Staples will match the lower price of their competitors or issue you the difference within 14 days. The select competitors that apply to their price match guarantee include Amazon, Best Buy, Costco, Dell, Hewlett Packard, Office Depot, Office Max, Quill, Medical Arts Press, Reliable, Sam’s Club, Wal-Mart, WB Mason, and Xerox.

About the company: Well known for its tagline, “That was easy,” Staples is undoubtedly one of the biggest office supply chains in the world. Staples was founded in 1986,  and currently employs over 90,000 associates worldwide, with an established  presence in over 26 countries throughout North and South America, Asia, Europe, and Australia.

2. Quill – When it comes to printing supplies such as cartridges and labels, Quill definitely takes the cake for lowest prices. This company also offers great prices on lunch room supplies including coffee and snacks. Regarding furniture and electronics, we found that Quill has moderate to low prices.

Unlike Staples, Quill doesn’t have a price match guarantee, but they do offer a lot of coupons and freebies. If you register an account with Quill, they’ll automatically send you regular updates on the sales and bargains that they have going on. Compared to the rest of the office supply chains, we found that Quill holds sales more often and they provide coupons that are actually useful. They usually throw in packets of assorted goods and snacks along with your order—just be sure to have the coupon code with you!

About the company: Quill had very humble beginnings. The company started with one desk and 2 phones in “Dad’s chicken store.” As time went by, that desk turned into a warehouse that grew and expanded over the years. Today, Quill has its corporate headquarters and Midwest distribution center in Lincolnshire, Illinois. They also have distribution centers in other states such as Georgica, Wisconsin, Ohio, Texas, California, and more.

3. Office Depot – Compared to other supply chains, we found that Office Depot had moderate to high prices in various categories. Like Quill though, Office Depot often holds sales, so be sure to check their website often to see if you can catch a bargain on the things that you need. You may also want to subscribe to their catalog and keep an eye out for their weekly ads because they always contain coupons and price slashes.

About the company: Office Depot was incorporated in 1986, with their first retail store in Fort Lauderdale, FL. They’ve now grown into a global supply chain with three business segments: North American Retail Division, North American Business Solutions Division and International Division. Office Depot currently serves customers in 56 countries across North America, Europe, Asia, and Latin America.

Image credit: Enokson on Flickr

Food and wine are common presents during the holiday season. It’s quite a courteous move to attend a party with a bottle of wine or some sort of food in hand. However, if you find yourself getting invited to way too many parties this season, it could be a budget nightmare. The good news is, finding cheap food and wine is pretty simple, as long as you know where to look.

Wine

Regarding wines on a budget, the Cheap Stuff Team consulted Oprah for her picks of “Terrific Wines $15 and Under”.

Giving a present to someone who’s environmentally conscious? Check out French Rabbit 2006 Chardonnay-Sauvignon. This White wine comes in “Petit” 250-milliliter cartons that have 10% of a carbon footprint of a glass bottle. The wine has flavors of peaches and apricots plus a nice fruity finish. Pair it with fresh salad or grilled tuna. ($11 per four-pack)

In the reds category, Altano 2006 is a top pick. Considered as one of the top Portuguese wines for its price, its described as downright “sexy.” Not bad for 8 bucks a bottle. Pair it with pizza or chili.

For Rose, Oprah.com recommends Bonny Doon 2007 “Vin Gris De Cigare”. Hailing from Randall Grahm of California, it “tastes like unsweetened raspberry candy and has the balance and the medium body to enliven everything from Thanksgiving turkey to a grilled pork chop.” ($15)

Searching for sparkling wine? Check out Mionetto (Nonvintage) Prosecco Brut, an Itallian sparkling wine that light and could serve as a great base for a mimosa.

Food

When giving food presents, you can always stick to traditional gift baskets. Online stores such as Harry and David, Mrs. Fields, GiftBaskets.com, etc., provide wide selections of gift baskets. Before selecting a final gift basket though, be sure to scout around for coupons and promotions. For instance, if you’re shopping at Harry and David, a quick Google search for “Harry and David coupons” should give you results containing discount codes, if they’re available. Remember, it’s the holiday season, so chances are, the food basket industry is keen to providing seasonal promos.

Gift baskets are usually filled with assorted fruits, wines, snacks, and sweets that will surely satisfy the appetite of the recipient. Nonetheless, if you happen to be giving a present to someone who’s committed to healthy eating (even on the holidays), be sure to select a basket that’s all-fruit. These types of gift baskets do tend to run out during gift-giving season, so if you really want to find a fruity present, try heading over to Edible Arrangements. The store offers gorgeous fruit baskets arranged in unique designs that actually resemble bouquets of flowers! According to the company’s website, their all-natural fruit gift baskets are “inspired by flower bouquets that are made from the freshest fruits.” Edible Arrangements contain a variety of fruits including strawberries, pineapples, cantaloupe, melons, apples, bananas and a whole lot more.

One minor caveat though: When purchasing gift baskets online, be sure to check every item before finalizing a sale. Always be mindful of the taste and health concerns of the recipient. The last thing you want to do is give a present that he or she is allergic to. Also check the website’s shipping schedule as well as its return policy, just to be on the safe side.

If you’re planning to go local, check your neighborhood florist, as some of them may offer gift baskets as well.

But whichever type of gift basket you choose, or wherever you buy it, be sure to add a personal touch to it. A hand-written and thoughtful note should do the trick.

Image credit: mothernaturebeauty on Flickr

Thanksgiving is over and that could only mean one thing: holiday shopping is bound to be in full effect. Millions of people spanning the country will be bombarding stores over the next three and a half weeks, looking for gifts for all their loved ones. Some of the most popular items such as clothes, electronics or gift cards are going to fly off shelves in a hurry. Another item will as well; something the kids want. As any parent knows, children love toys. During the holiday season, toy stores are packed, sometimes from wall to wall, with parents trying to get their kids that toy they saw in the book, or that toy they couldn’t have weeks ago. However, as a parent, you also want to be able to get the most out of your money. So, how do you go about saving money and making your kid happy? Here are some ideas.

Ads are given out with weekly newspapers and these should be your go-to guides for all holiday shopping needs. Also, ads for toy stores such as Toys R Us are available, usually within their yearly Holiday Big Book. These ads list plenty of cheap toys that parents can get for a fraction of the cost they saw it for before. Deals are common around the holidays, offering percentages off certain items and buy one get one specials, and toys are no exception.

Online shopping sites are also another way to find quality toys for a great price. Many websites such as Amazon or eToys.com will provide specials and deals as well. The trick is finding them. Sometimes it’s easy as searching for cheap toys; other times may require multiple sites in order to find the right price for the item you want. Online websites for actual companies like Wal-Mart or Target will also provide their ads online, along with specific “Online Only” deals for items during the holidays.

There are tons of places that provide good quality toys for cheap, depending on your budget of course. Sometimes they come in the form of little ‘hole-in-the-wall’ stores that are not associated with chain brands. Stores like these often sell their items for fewer prices, but still have high quality toys. Finding these places could be tricky, but it’s not something an internet search would not be able to help you find.

There’s no denying the fact that holiday shopping can be a strenuous task. Going out into a giant crowd of people on the search for just a few items doesn’t seem like a very fun time. However, there are ways to make your task go by just a bit smoother. First off, know what you’re going to get and know the stores that have it. For toys, many retails stores will carry it. So secondly, find the stores that are less inhabited, leaving you with fewer worries, and people, to deal with. Finally, always remember to find the best deal. There’s nothing like saving money around the holidays. Shop smart!

Image credit: Richard Moross on flickr