These gray, stretch trouser jeans from AK Anne Klein may well be on their way to being a new classic.

Sale price: $41.40 (40% off the original price of $69)

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Anne Klein gray trouser jeans $41.40

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1. Anne Klein petite babydoll blouse $33.99
2. AK Anne Klein walker coat $89.99
3. Michael Kors wide leg jeans $36.98

This petite babydoll blouse from AK Anne Klein is effortlessly elegant.

Sale price: $33.99 (66% off the original price of $99)

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Anne Klein petite babydoll blouse $33.99

You might also like:

1. Anne Klein gray trouser jeans $41.40
2. AK Anne Klein walker coat $89.99
3. AK Anne Klein Impress flat $27.63+

Available in 8 bold colors, these ultra-fem flats from Ras are elegant enough for formal wear but versatile enough to spice up even a casual outfit.

Price: $71.39 (69% off the list price of $237.95)

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Ras dressy flats $71.39

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1. Xhilaration ballet flats in red plaid, $10.49
2. Jessica Simpson Belina ballet flats $20.69+
3. Kate Spade Party Ornament flats $129.97

Already planning your first 2009 getaway? Travel with ease and style with this 4-piece Marino luggage set from Traveler’s choice.

Available in navy, spice orange, chocolate with pink trim, and black.

Sale price: $116.96 - $120.60 depending on color
(13-73% off the list prices of $134.99-$439.99)

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Traveler’s Choice luggage set $116.96+

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1. Xmas gift idea: chic luggage, $76.50+
2. Cheap gift ideas: For the traveler
3. Last chance Coach handbag bargains, $109.99-$368

It’s not too late to grab a great trench this year! There is still plenty of chilly weather left and this chic belted trench coat from DKNY is just the sort of classic outerwear that you can wear for years to come.

Sizes XS to XL available in two colors: Prussian metal and carbon metal.

Price: $99.99 (54% off the list price of $220.00)

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DKNY belted trench coat $99.99

You might also like:

1. DKNY wool blend belted coat $119.99
2. Short trench coat $39.99
3. Empire-waist short trench coat $24.99

Here’s another great way to improve items’ cost-per-wear: maintain and repair things that you already own so that you can keep wearing them for seasons to come!

Even if sewing isn’t your forte and you don’t see yourself darning socks, you can easily use a
sweater stone to remove pills from your sweaters. A little rubbing and they’ll look good as new!

Price: $4.99 (33% off the list price of $7.49)

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Sweater stone $4.99

You might also like:

1. Isaac Mizrahi tank sweater $5.74
2. 100% cashmere sweater, $34.99
3. Style & Co. layered sweater $24.98

Here’s another reason to keep your receipts!

After-Christmas sales are in full swing as stores try to clear their inventory and get people to use those gift cards they received beneath the tree. Prices are dropping everywhere.

That’s good news if you’ve got some more shopping to do — and it’s great news for everyone who kept their receipts from Christmas shopping!

Here’s how to take advantage of the sales to get some money back.

The basics

If an item you bought dropped in price at the store you bought it from, just head on over to the customer service department, show them your receipt, and ask for the difference. Obviously, if you bought the item back in June you might not get anything, but you’re almost guaranteed some money back if the return period has not expired.

Driving across town might not be worth it for a few dollars, but you could save hundreds if you bought a lot of high price gifts like expensive electronics. Now that is a Christmas gift!

Online shoppers have it even easier

If you bought a lot of stuff online, the process is even easier — which might make it worth your time to get back a few bucks here and there. Bought something from Amazon? Check out Amazon’s price drop policy and, if your purchase qualifies, head over to their returns and refunds page.

It gets even easier if you use a price watch tool like this Amazon price watcher. This one even has a Firefox add-on you can use to automatically watch price drops on your purchases.

Sounds easy, doesn’t it? Well, it is! Expert bargain shoppers know that sometimes all you have to do is ask.

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Get money back with post-Christmas price drops

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1. Tip: post-Christmas sales start today!
2. Fashion mistakes: how to get your money back
3. $1 to $1 billion Christmas gift guide

Nothing says “crazy cat lady” like an outfit covered in fur (unless that outfit also includes a few appliqué cats thrown in for good measure).

As the proud “momma” of five kitty cats, I have to admit that I’m constantly waging war to keep my wardrobe fur-free. I could easily go through packs of tape rollers, but reusable lint brushes are a much more ecological — and economical — solution.

Whether you’re a fellow pet-parent or just want to banish plain ol’ lint, this Lint Wizard self cleaning lint brush is just the thing to keep your clothes fur and lint free. Be sure to keep extras in your car and at work!

Price: $7.95 (60% off the list price of $19.99)

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Lint Wizard self cleaning lint brush $7.95

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1. A cheap alternative to overpriced makeup brush holders
2. UltraClub knit hats $3
3. Sephora Prestige 12-brush set $150

Here’s a great idea from Angie at YouLookFab: save those cardboard wrapping paper rolls after you’ve used up the paper, cut them in half, and use them as boot shapers to keep your boots from getting bent out of shape! It’s an idea I’ve put to use in my favorite pair of boots and it works fabulously.

If you’ve already thrown away the rolls, or have more boots than rolls, then check out Angie’s post for more ideas from her and her readers.

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Save your boots by saving those wrapping paper rolls

You might also like:

1. How to wear boots in winter
2. Nine West Kool Breeze knee-high boots, $119.97
3. Chic Charles David boots, $199.89

Have you been told over and over again that “It’s the thought that counts”, but you still feel pressured to spend more on someone simply because you feel that they deserve something special? Sometimes it seems that “special” and “costly” are synonyms, but really that’s not the case.

As I shared in My gift shopping strategy, or why small gifts rock, I’m a big fan of gifts that don’t break the budget. If you’re still worried that giving cheap gifts just isn’t special enough, read on to find out how my husband makes small gifts incredibly special.

Almost every Christmas my husband has given me a box of small gifts: small gifts because we’re on a budget and in a box because… well, because his wrapping skills used to be undeveloped. For a few years he wrapped the box itself and then some of the gifts would get just a bit of wrapping paper. There is one thing he has always done, though, that has made every gift far more valuable to me than their cost and presentation would indicate.

He attaches a sticky note with a personal message on every gift. It might only be a few words, but he tells me why he thought of me when choosing each gift. For example, if he gives me Ferrero Rocher chocolates, he might write, “Your favorites”. Yep, he knows me too well.

On every gift, add a note to say why it made you think of the recipient. Maybe it reminded you of a wonderful shared memory, or because you know that they never have enough bookmarks, or because that color looks absolutely fabulous on them. They’re sure to appreciate the gift even more for the thought put into it.

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A simple way to make gifts more special

You might also like:

1. My gift shopping strategy, or why small gifts rock
2. Absolutely last-minute gift ideas
3. Cheap gift ideas: For music lovers