I recently got an invitation to join Borders Rewards Perks, open to any one who is a member of Borders. No membership fee for either club.

I found discounts on South Florida restaurants through Restaurant.com, 15 percent off Bluefly apparel, discount movie tickets, and 25 percent off patio furniture at Home Depot. Some good deals; some not so much. Forty percent off of Nordstrom's, for example, is still often $100-plus pricetag.

But worth checking out. Sign up at any local Borders store. -- Marcia "Bargain Hunter" Pounds

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News from TravelZoo, one of a number of websites that find good travel deals for us while we are busy working. I love to travel, lately my destinations are all about deals. I can't always go where I want, when I want, but I CAN go when and where the price is right. Here's the latest message from travelzoo.com. I'm going to a wedding in Ohio in April....looks like I should book now.

"American, United, JetBlue, AirTran and other major airlines have cut prices on flights all the way through April!

We've found great deals departing out of Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Fort Myers and other nearby airports.

Tips for finding the lowest fare:
- Be flexible and try a few different itineraries
- Try multiple sites to ensure you get absolute best deal
- Be sure not to check "Prefer nonstop"

But hurry, some sales end in the next few days, and the most sought-after dates will sell out fast. Flying on slower travel days, like Tuesdays and Wednesdays, will give you the best chance of finding a sale fare.

Travelzoo's SuperSearch helps you find the best deals.
Click here:

SuperSearch uses more than 2.5 million consumer ratings and Travelzoo's years of expertise to help you find the best fares. Plus, you can easily compare multiple sites without entering your information over and over."

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When my sister had a business trip to India last year, she turned to Chico's travel collection for clothes that would cover tall frame, not wrinkle and look professional.

Besides being wary about travel conditions and restrictions, women need to be careful not to offend the culture they are visiting. Often that means covering up.

Chico's is having its winter sale, up to 75 percent, off on many items: sweaters, buttoned shirts, pants, jackets, and its travel collection. The store's jewelry is also discounted, with some 50 percent off if you buy one item at full price.

The Chico's bright colors and leisure look is not for everyone, but its store on Las Olas Boulevard in Fort Lauderdale has plenty of choices for the more conservative dresser as well. -- Marcia "Bargain Hunter" Pounds

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Spirit Airlines has a $9 Club that offers too-good-to-be-true fares to some of the cities Spirit services. Pay $35/year to join the club...if you travel to the places they advertise, and you aren't picky about the dates you travel, you will be amazed at the low fares!

I just booked a ticket to NY from Ft Lauderdale, $1 each way, with taxes and fees the round trip ticket was $25. It was only available for a few days in May. I don't know where I will be in May, but for $25, I think I'll be in NY!

Right now they are advertising $8 each way to Atlanta from FLL, available a few dates in January. I can't afford not to go.

Just remember, Spirit makes it's money on the poor suckers who show up after the 45 minute cut off time for their flights. If you book a Spirit ticket, make sure you get to the airport an hour before the flight with a pre-printed boarding pass in hand. After the 45 minute mark, they don't let you on your booked flight, but send you to the 'sucker' line to pay $200+ to rebook another flight at last minute rates.

Spirit fares good through 12/25/2008.

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Tired of paying more when you fly because of overweight luggage? Disgusting, isn't it?

Here's a solution. The Balanzza digital luggage scale is a light, portable scale that claims to have "impeccable accuracy." This little gadget can help you lighten the load at home rather than get a surprise at the airport. Take it along to be sure you know how much your gift-ladden suitcase weigh on the return flight.

Available at.Target.com, Balanzza.com for $24.

Buy it for yourself or your college student.

XOXO -- Shopper Girl

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I just got back from a 10 day visit to Shanghai China on what I imagined would be the ultimate shopping experience. I just knew I was going to have sooo much to blog about when I got back!! Everyone always raves about their shopping experiences in China!

Twenty five years ago I did a whirlwind tour of China, the last stop was Shanghai. Enchanted with the city, three days were not nearly enough. I left with that nagging feeling that I'd only scratched the surface of a very exciting city. I’ve been following Shanghai’s explosive growth through the media, I read voraciously about the wonderful restored neighborhoods, new architecture, restaurants and museums. I was haunted with the desire to return.

Shanghai is still an exciting city, barely recognizable from the Shanghai I visited in 1984, but it was fun to explore just the same. As for shopping, it’s not a tax free haven like Hong Kong, which is a shoppers paradise. Even the Shanghianese make regular shopping trips across the border to Hong Kong. In Mainland China there is a 33% tax on imported goods. The big shopping streets in Shanghai, Nanjing Road and HauiHai Road are bustling with designer stores, but there are no deals there. For example, a pair of Nine West shoes was $150. Shopping in beautiful stores that are way more expensive than home is not fun for this bargain hunter!!

So I avoided the malls, and hit the markets. The huge black market for fake designer goods keeps these markets bustling, even with supposed police crackdowns. There are aggressive hawkers everywhere shoving purse pictures in your face as they yell the only three words they know in English “Watch bag lady.” I don’t know about you, but I’d rather have a real $20 Target purse than a fake Louis Vuitton for the same price.

Displays of fake Tiffany silver, and every imaginable brand of watch abound. I left my good watch at home, scared by the string of Rolex robberies in South Florida…I didn’t want to get mugged in a country where the police don’t speak my language. I was lost without my timepiece, so when I got there I bought a $15 'Georgio Armani' watch (I hope the cops don't read my blog) which quit working before I got back to my hotel. Kind of proves the old adage "you get what you pay for."

I don't give up easily, and I did manage to buy enough goodies that I had to buy an extra suitcase to get it all home. I have work to do right now, have to get the newspaper out, but I'll tell you in my next blog about my China purchases.

Maybe you have some China shopping tips, in case any of our readers are going!

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We are beginning to wonder if Sur La Table in Pembroke Pines will open in time for holiday shopping.

The company's public relations machine has informed us that the new store, scheduled to open Nov. 15, then Nov. 30, will now open on Dec. 7.

Construction delays have caused the postponements, according to a company spokeswoman. But she says the store management feels confident that it will finally open Dec. 7.

Sur La Table is known for a good selection of tabletop, decorations, small appliances and cookware. It also offers demonstrations by nationally known cookbooks authors.

The store, located at The Shops at Pembroke Gardens, is located at 301 SW 145th Terrace in Pembroke Pines. Hours will be 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday.

C.V.S.

Photo: Holiday tree ceramics from $9.95.

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Two things I don't travel without: an empty pillow case and a shawl. I stuff potentially-germy airline pillows in the case for a pillow that smells like home, and use the shawl as a blanket.

For a prettier, handier, cozier version of this idea, go to lugtravel.com. for the $28 Nap Sac Travel Blanket. Unzip the pillowcase for a soft blanket and inflatable pillow.

Might also be handy to have a couple of these in the car for kids to use on long roadtrips.

-K.V.W.

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