“Slow economy…depression…recession…economic downturn…” We’re hearing it, seeing it and reading it everywhere we go! And the mantra of “save, save, save” is never far behind. But lets be honest for a moment – even in hard times (which I’ll not deny that these are) we still have an itch that makes us want to go out and just buy stuff. Unfortunately now that seems to be accompanied by a feeling of guilt when we are told we’re supposed to “save, save, save.” Well, have no fear all of you deal-seeking shoppers. Now more than ever there are great deals to be found that are just begging for your perusal. Best of all, the prices are so low that Abe’s of Maine is happy to give you “Guilt Free Shopping.”

Here are some of the best ways to find the best “guilt free” deals at Abe’s of Maine:

1. The Closeout Section is always a great place to start. These are items that absolutely need to go. So you know that you’re getting a price that is as rock-bottom as they come.

2. Make sure when you search for products or click on a category that the results are listed as ascending in price order (this can be accesed at the top of the page below the search bar). This way you see the lowest priced items first. If you don’t have a lot to spend then this is the best way to make sure you are seeing the items with the smallest hit on your wallet.

3. Always check to see if any products include free items, price discounts or manufacturer rebates. These will always be applied to whatever the listed price is. Plus it means you get more bang for the buck.

4. Call, call, call! Very often certain bargains can’t be advertised online. But once you have a live person on the phone you can find out anything and everything that Abe’s (1800 992 2237) has to offer (this pretty much applies to any online store, whether you’re buying pet food, clothes, books, household cleaning fluids, roof tiles, whatever), including products and bundles you may not have been aware of that will save you money!

We’d love to hear some of your shopping success stories with Abe’s of Maine. Especially if it was guilt free! The first 50 people to comment will receive a $15 coupon off a purchase of $100 or more (BAM! There’s one more way to save!)*!

Cameras, Video, Televisions, GPS, Pro Audio, Musical Instruments, Large Appliances, Small Appliances, Fitness Equipment, Car Electronics

*All comments are read and moderated before being posted. Coupon code is not automatically emailed after comment is made. Please allow some time to receive your coupon code as there is much spam to be filtered through.

We are most certainly living in tough economic times. For most people saving every penny can make a difference.  You use your kitchen every day, so why not make it work for you so you can save a few bucks? Here a few simple and easy tips that can lower your heating and electricity bills on a monthly basis.

1. First and foremost, if you are in the market for new appliances, definitely make sure you purchase appliances that come with the Energy Star approval. You know that this unit will be more efficient than one without it.

2. When cooking or baking, only open your oven door if necessary. Every time you open the door the temperature drops 25-30 degrees. Use an oven with an oven light and glass window so you can check on your food without opening the door.

3. When baking, use glass or ceramic pans. They retain heat better than metal pans and allow you to drop the baking temperature by up to 25 degrees.

4. On gas burners, don’t use your pilot light! Using a clicker lighter rather than a pilot will use 40% less gas. That reduces energy and it will also cut your gas and heating bill noticeably (safety precaution: if you do relight your pilot make sure the flame is ready to light before turning the gas back on).

5. If you have a well lit kitchen, unscrew the lightbulb from your refrigerator and freezer. Most likely you’ll be able to see just as well and you won’t have to turn those bulbs on and off every time you open and close the fridge.

6. Cleaning a gas oven will actually increase efficiency since the crud that builds up inside insulates the walls and makes it longer for the interior to heat up. However, contrary to popular belief, cleaning an electric oven, particularly the self cleaning feature, is not necessary (other than for aesthetic purposes) because the heating elements in are inside the cooking space so. Using the self cleaning feature uses more energy in the end. If you want to clean it, do it the old fashioned way: grab a rag, some water and a cleaning agent and wipe it down.

We’ll be bringing you some more energy saving tips in future posts. In the meantime we’d love to hear what you do to try and save energy in the kitchen. The first 50 people to comment will receive a $15 coupon off a purchase of $100 or more*!

Cameras, Video, Televisions, GPS, Pro Audio, Musical Instruments, Large Appliances, Small Appliances, Fitness Equipment, Car Electronics

*All comments are read and moderated before being posted. Coupon code is not automatically emailed after comment is made. Please allow some time to receive your coupon code as there is much spam to be filtered through.