DEALS from Family Grooves

We at THE FAMILY GROOVE love to shop and we love to save money…which is why we’ve rounded up the best – and grooviest – boutiques, brands and discounts just for your (and our!) spring shopping thrills.

For The Grooviest Baby Gear:

Fab Baby Gear (www.fabbabygear.com): Save $10 off $20 or move with code groovyfab.

Nurture (www.shopnurture.com): Save 15% off purchases of $75 or more with code stroll15.

Pure and Simple Baby (www.pureandsimplebaby.com): Save 10% with code SIMPLEBABY through 4.30.10.

Punkin-Butt (www.punkinbutt.com): Save 10% with code Groove10.

Cuddles Kids Bedding (www.cuddleskidsbedding): Save 10% with code TFG10.

Baby Sock Locks (www.babysocklocks.com): Get 20% off with code TFG20.

Modern Kid Stuff (www.modernkidstuff.com): Save 20% with code Groovy.

Vanny Bean (www.vannybean.com): Save 10% with code groovy

Sleepy Wrap (www.sleepywrap.com): Save 10% with code tgf10

Hug-a-Bib (www.hugabib.com): Save 20% with code groove20.

Lillebaby (www.scichild.com): Save 20% off Eurototes with code groove.

What Every Baby Needs (www.whateverybabyneeds.com): Save 10% with code TFG.

Anne-Marie Designs (www.annemariesdesigns.com): Save 15% with code TFG15.

Finn’s Finds (www.finnsfinds.com): Save 50% off selected items with code groovy.

For the Coolest Baby and Kids’ Clothes:

Kota Couture (www.kotacouture.com): Save 15% with code TFG15.

Bungalow Bebe (www.bungalowbebe.com): Save $10 off your order with code THEFAMILYGROOVE123.

Treasure Box Kids (www.treasureboxkids): Save 15% off with code TFG15.

My Embroidered Gifts (www.myembroideredgifts.co): Save 15% off with code tfg15.

Kool Kloz (www.koolkloz.com): Save 10% when you write a comment in their blog or guest book.

Hopscotch Tees (www.hopscotchtees.com): Get free crystals or free give wrap when you mention THEFAMILYGROOVE when purchasing a shirt.

Kate Rees Designs (www.katereeschildren.com): Get 20% off with code Grove@20.

Rock n Roll Babies (www.rocknrollbabies.com): Save 15% with code groove.

My Baby Pajamas (www.mybabypajamas.com): Get 15% off with code tfg15.

Saige Nicole’s (www.saigenicoles.com): Save 15% with code TFG15.

Toys We Love:

Bloom Putty (www.bloomputty.com): Save 15% with code groovy.

Little Zen Minds (www.littlezenminds.com): Save 10% with code Momi10.

Hazelnut Kids (www.hazelnutkids.com): Get 10% off with code groove10.

Bright October (www.brightoctober.com): Save 15% with code TFG15.

Discover This (www.discoverthis.com): Save 10% off any order over $50 with code Grove.

Green and Groovy:

Greener Grass Designs (www.greenergrassdesigns): Get 15% off with code TFG10.

Gretchen and Grace (www.gretchenandgrace.com): Save 20% with code TFG20.

Grandeur Green (www.grandeurgreen.com): Save 10% with code TFG2009.

Snack Taxi (www.snacktaxi.com): Save 15% with code save15.

For You—or Your Favorite Mama:

The Happy Magpie (www.thehappymagpie.com): Save 15% with code FAMILYGROOVE.

Bailey Bea Designs (www.baileybeadesigns.com): Save 15% though 4.30.10 with code MHL15.

Invitation Jane (www.invitationjane.com): Save 10% with code TFG10.

Milan Maternity (www.milanmaternity.com): Save 15% with code TFG15.

Bella Zandra (www.bellazandra): Save 10% with code BZ-TFG10.

Good Earth Beauty (www.goodearthbeauty.com): Save 5% off any order with code GROOVE5 or 10% off any order over $100 with code GROOVE10.

CityDEALS Giveaway :-)

Win a FREE stay at the Peery Hotel Stay and Dinner at Christopher’s Steak & Seafood!!

Simply enter in your information and refer a friend to be entered!

The winner AND the person that referred them BOTH WIN!! If your friend wins – you do too!!!

(click on the link to enter)

http://marketing.citydeals.com/giveaway/

Where Can I Find The BEST DEAL??

I love to shop online because I ALWAYS find the best DEALS. There is this website that I have been using a lot for all of my shopping because it has the coolest DEALS…. Have you ever heard of CityDEALS?

CityDeals.com is a local search provider and retailer of discount gift cards, gift certificates, and coupons for local and national brands.

You can find DEALS on companies like – Carver’s Steaks & Seafood, Cinemark, Shanghai Red’s, The Reef, Costa Vida, Daddy Dukes, Coffee Pod, Jumpin Jack’s, Banana Republic, Mimi’s Café – just to name a few …..

They are always adding more companies – so if you don’t see the DEAL you want stay tuned because it will be there soon.

www.citydeals.com

Secrets to Closing Last-Minute Pre-Foreclosure Deals

By James J. Saccacio

http://www.realestate.com/

If you’re interested in investing in pre-foreclosure property, you should know that owners in default may not agree to sell until the last minute — sometimes only a few days before the public foreclosure auction. You’ll need to act quickly and may even need to take steps to postpone the auction if you want to realize pre-foreclosure bargains.

"I like to have the deal worked out with the homeowner at least 10 days prior to the auction. This allows enough time to settle on the pre-foreclosure without worrying if the foreclosing bank will postpone the auction and allow me enough time to settle," said Lance Young, a real estate investor and author of several real estate investing eBooks.

Depending on state foreclosure laws, the pre-foreclosure period can last less than one month or more than one year. Owners in default often are more motivated to sell the closer it gets to the date of the public auction. So even if you’ve contacted owners early in the pre-foreclosure period, you shouldn’t be surprised if they wait until the last minute to sell the property. Once the owners indicate they wish to sell, you’ll need to spring into action immediately to make sure that you are able to negotiate a price that’s acceptable to both parties, sign a sales contract and close the deal before the date of the public auction. Young recommends the following steps to get all this accomplished in as few as 10 days.

1. Pinpoint the amount owed
You should already have an estimate of the amount owed on the property based on your research of the notice of default or notice of sale and any liens and loans on the property. Once you’re ready to put an offer price in writing, you need to determine the exact amount needed to satisfy the foreclosing bank and any other lien holders — including missed payments, late fees and foreclosure attorney fees and the loan balance — by having the homeowner sign a disclosure authorization.

"This is as simple as having the homeowner write down his or her name, address and loan number on a short note that states the bank has permission to release this information to you," Young said, noting a disclosure authorization should be obtained for first and second loans. For other liens, such as a mechanics lien for work done on the property, you can usually just contact the lien holders and ask for the payoff amount.

"Be aware that many junior lien holders will sell their liens at a huge discount prior to the auction – especially when you inform them that the house is in foreclosure and their junior lien stands a good chance of getting wiped out at the auction," he said.

2. Negotiate and sign a sales contract
When you have the exact numbers to work with, you can negotiate the final purchase price and other terms of the sale with the owner. If your homework shows the property has a solid amount of equity, you’ll be able to make a pre-foreclosure offer that benefits you, the owner and the foreclosing lender. You purchase the property below market value, the owner walks away without a foreclosure marring his or her credit history and some cash for a fresh start, and the lender recovers the amount owed without the expense of continuing the foreclosure process.

Put your purchase agreement in writing in a standard sales contract, which you can obtain from a local real estate agent or escrow company. Young recommends including a clause in the contract that releases you of any legal or personal obligation if the sale doesn’t close before the public auction.

"If you cannot settle on the house prior to the auction, you lose the deal. If you do not clearly write into the contract that it is null and void if you cannot settle in time, you might get sued by the former owner," he said.

3. Open escrow and close the deal
Take your signed purchase agreement to a local escrow company and open a case for the transaction. The escrow company acts as a third party, making sure all the terms of the transaction are properly enforced.

"In addition to disbursing all of the funds properly and transferring the title, escrow companies ensure that all documents are correctly filled out and signed." Young said. "You should also obtain title insurance through the escrow company. Obtaining title insurance from the escrow company is very important because it insures you against any defects on the title."

If you’ve got your financing in place and the escrow company doesn’t have a lot of other cases in front of you, escrow could close in as little as one week, according to Young. It’s best to have your financing secured before you even contact owners in default so that you’re prepared to act quickly to make a purchase.

4. Request an auction postponement if necessary
Sometimes you won’t have enough time to close the deal before the auction, even if the owner has agreed to sell. In this case, you can ask the lender to postpone the auction date so that you have time to complete the purchase transaction.

"The best way to get the bank to postpone the foreclosure auction is to present the lender with a signed sales contract, along with a loan qualification letter from your bank, Young said. "The sales price must cover all of the money owed to the foreclosing lender, including the principal balance and the reinstatement amount. Bear in mind that the lender is not required by law to stop the foreclosure, although most of them will if you have both a loan qualification letter and a signed sales contract. If the homeowner has waited until the day before the auction to sell, you still have a good chance at getting the auction postponed by showing the lender your loan qualification letter and a signed sales contract.

Top Travel Sites 4 DEALS

I love to travel – it has to be one of my favorite pass-times! I am always searching for the biggest deal – to get more for my buck. Airline travel, hotel, car rental, food and shopping costs ALL ad up very quickly. The more I can safe on my hotel, airfair or car rental – the more $$ I have to go shopping :-)

My top travel DEAL sites that I use are:

1) Hotwire

2) Kayak

3) TravelZoo

4) Expedia

5) Travelocity

6) Sidestep

7) SmarterTravel

8) BookingBuddy

9) Priceline

10) Away

Comparison Shopping

When shopping I like to compare prices to make sure I am getting the BEST DEAL possible. I work hard for my money and I don’t like wasting money! It is the most upsetting feeling when you buy something – and then you later see that same product in another store for so much cheaper. I HATE that so much!!!!

My friends say that it takes me extra long to make up my mind for purchases – but I look at it as just making sure I get the most for my buck. Be a smart shopper – and comparison shop. It will save your pocketbook in the end.

Let's Cut Some Coupons!!

If you have never ventured into the world of online coupon cutting then you are really missing the money saving boat. For as long as I can remember, I have always clipped coupons the traditional way by combing through newspapers and flyer ads. It has only been recently that I got hooked on online coupon cutting.

You can find an online coupon for just about anything you want from free meals to car rental discounts. All you have to do is print out the coupon and take it in or redeem it online. It is that simple!

It is important to note that many websites only offer savings through use of an online coupon that can only be found via their web site so it can really pay to check out your favorite online coupon sites often.

And did you know that you can often get a better deal online than in person? I like to shop on web sites that offer free shipping. Many companies also offer an online coupon that you can print out and present in person. For the company it is a great way to track how many people are visiting their site and taking advantage of their online coupon offer in their actual store.