A Second Chance To Buy Preminium Labels At Macy’s And Walmart

Did you know that Macy’s, Walmart, and Target have all expanded their digital storefronts to include recognizable name brands and premium contemporary labels? When you see the offerings, pay close attention to the seller listed, as it is done under different arrangements. Lands’ End and COACH sell directly via their own storefronts hosted by Walmart.com. Plus, these famous brands may come from pre-owned or 3rd-party marketplace sellers. Personally, I prefer buying articles sold directly by the well-known retailers: Walmart, Macy’s, Target, or by the original brands’ storefronts, not a 3rd-party seller, although Walmart will make good a sale gone wrong from all 3rd-party sellers. So you’ll still have 30 days to return damaged items, or if you change your mind. Usually if Walmart is the seller, customers have 90 days for returns. THE SAVVY SHOPPER urges all customers to be mindful and fair with returns, so companies will continue to have liberal return policies. With abuse, merchants start charging for returns so the cost of returns doesn’t eat into profits. Buyers, please show your appreciation with mindfulness when ordering. Order items you aim to keep.

I’m featuring a Lands’ End dress I bought in 2 colors for my senior mother earlier this year directly from Lands’ End that I now see offered on Macy’s and Walmart’s websites. We love the quality and cuteness of this Lands’ End Jersey Cotton Tiered Mini Dress. It’s not mini but hits right above the knee! Made of thick cotton, it’s the perfect Indian summer dress to transition into cooler temperatures! 

If Lands’ End sells out of your size or color, you now have a 2nd chance to grab the dress at Macy’s or Walmart online! Sometimes for a reduced price, sometimes not, but when customers regret not pulling the trigger at the time a piece launches, or they buy one, love it, and desire another color, they get a 2nd chance to buy it! Next time your size sells out, check to see if the retailer has a storefront at Macy’s, Walmart, or Target! I suspect the arrangement is a way for retailers to sell end-of-season stock, so it's a win-win for both merchants and their customers!

Personally, I refuse to pay the big markups pre-loved or opportunistic 3rd-party sellers ask for used bags. I’m thinking of YOU, random sellers of the discontinued COACH original Cassie 10” by 6” by 3” leather bag that I covet! Manufacturers, such as COACH, with storefronts on Walmart.com  sell only new items sans markups; however, when the season's stock is gone, it’s gone! Poof!

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About CleverMade’s Haulkin-Like Tote

CleverMade

Can’t fit a metal cart into your space? In 2023, I reviewed the $110 rolling Hulken Sack. Three years later, I'm seeing more and more of them on Manhattan streets hauling groceries. They’re popular with New York shoppers who live in small apartments.

But now for $32 (or less at Walmart), customers can buy a comparable tote made by CleverMade that is well worth the savings! It’s a fraction bigger than the medium-sized Hulken and is available in shiny silver, yellow gold, rose gold, and black. Initially, I preferred the silver, then switched to the shiny black because I think it will show less dirt and wear.

	CleverMade	Hulken (medium)
Open dimensions	18”L x 14”W x 24”H	16”L x 12”W x 22"H
Folded height	5"	4 "
Bag weight	4.1 lbs	3 lbs
Weight capacity	75 lbs	66 lbs

Customers who have both bags split hairs over the differences in size but mention liking the CleverMade caddy's snap-collapsible poles, giving it more structure to stay open and making it easier to load than the Haulken bag. CleverMade is designed with an extra exterior compartment also. Both have a zipper-closed top, 3 handles, and wheels made of steel, but surprisingly to some users of both, the CleverMade rolls smoother on concrete and uphill compared to the Hulken.

There’s no way of knowing without testing both which brand is the most durable, but at less than 1/3 of Hulken’s price, you could buy the rolling CleverMade Tote 3 times and still break even. I think it's quite telling that owners of both brands don’t have an outright preference for the Haulken, yet seem to be 

neutral.

So what would I do? The Haulken folds down to 4 inches compared to the slightly bigger CleverMade Sack’s 5 inches. If the 1" difference in height is irrelevant because a buyer has the storage space, I’d buy the $32-or-less CleverMade. Only if I needed Hulken’s additional compactness would I very reluctantly consider paying 3 times more! It’s one of the times when customers can save by selecting good enough over the higher-priced tote, an option they didn’t have 3 years ago.

Savvy Shoppers always compare to know whether to save or splurge! When quality matters: splurge. When nearly the same: save.

Extra tip: 

A neighbor gave me a rolling tote exactly like the Temu one below that is made of substantial nylon and is even more compact than both the Haulken and the CleverMade rolling totes. Although CleverMade is still my 1st choice, I’d recommend the Temu rolling tote if you need greater compactness due to a chronic lack of city storage. It doesn’t have the structure of the CleverMade (or Haulken), but it is sufficiently well-made and relatively large when unfolded, at a far lower price. Strong enough for wheeling groceries on concrete, and due to its unstructured nylon fabric, it folds down to stow away in the most challenging of tiny spaces. As you can see below, you can expand it to 3 different capacities. If using it for travel, it has a flap to slide over the handle of a rolling suitcase. The wheels of the Temu bag are also detachable. They slide off so you can clean them in soapy water sometimes. 

All 3 brands of rolling totes look stylish LIVE in front of your face! My neighbor gave me the Temu tote in a bluish-grey color that is more grey than blue. For the price she paid, I love it!

Temu rolling totes here

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Tip: Saving Champagne or Lambrusco

There are times I would enjoy a glass of champagne or wine if only I had a friend over to make opening a bottle worth it, or when I do have a friend over to share the Champagne or wine with -- as non-guzzlers of alcohol -- we enjoy our glass of wine yet don’t finish the bottle. Half a bottle of Champagne or Lambrusco goes flat soon after opening the bottle ... like the next day. 

But wait, in addition to making sangria with leftover wine, there’s an easy, inexpensive solution! It also lets you skip spending $300 for a wine perserver, a devise that pierces only the cork to stop oxidation from spoiling leftover wine.

I figured out how to keep sparkling (or regular) wine just as fresh or bubbly as the day you open it. 

Here’s how:

1) Buy a champagne stopper. Walmart sells them for $3.50. In 2018, I got the Champagne Stopper by MiTBA on Amazon. If it's out of stock, enter the stopper name in a Google search box to see where else to buy them.

2) Save an empty Champagne or Lambrusco bottle to pour leftover and/or regular wine into. This is necessary because regular (non-carbonated) wine bottles do not work with the stoppers. The mouth of a regular wine bottle will not catch.

The MiTBA Champagne Stopper (the brand I use) is a leak-proof bottle sealer featuring a built-in pressure pump designed to keep sparkling wine, prosecco, and champagne carbonated for days. Other stopper brands that look similar to it will likely work as well. Decide if you wish to take the risk.

I have enjoyed leftover Champagne, Lambrusco, and non-carbonated wines 2 -3 weeks after opening a bottle. So now I’m not reluctant to open a bottle to drink a single glass of wine with a cheese platter or a nice dinner. Because you know what? It appears I’ll never be a heavy drinker. When having a glass of wine, I like its taste, but I don’t desire it any more (meaning quantity or frequency) than I desire other treats, like a piece of chocolate, an apple, or a slice of cake. The Champagne Stopper is ideal for cheap dates just like me!

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White-Labeling and Contract Manufacturing in Skincare

Whenever available, I buy the drugstore dupes of name brands with the same efficiency to save a few bucks. The formulas are exactly the same, yet you pay far less. Today, let's discuss how Walmart and chain drugstores can afford to sell us these amazing bargains. Along the way, you’ll also learn some industry jargon.

YouTube’s Doctorly channel (hosted by dermatologists Dr. Madiha Shah and Dr. Tom Maxfield) reveals that celebrity, drugstore, and doctor-branded lines often get their products through white-labeling and contract manufacturing. They don’t create unique formulas from scratch; instead, they buy pre-made stock formulas from private 3rd party, contract laboratories and slap their own labels on them. Some of these sellers may make minor tweaks known as ingredient dusting to market the skincare (or makeup) as rare or innovative products.

The 3rd-party beauty labs are independent contract manufacturers and cosmetic chemists who formulate the base recipes. A solo lab might make a core retinol serum or moisturizer or skin treatment or body wash and sell the same stock formula to a ton of brands across various price points.

Celebrities or influencers rarely formulate anything. Beauty companies and marketers work with a famous name or physician to select a pre-existing stock formulation from a lab catalog, pick out custom packaging, and plan a marketing story around it.

Another YouTube dermatologist, Dr. Usama Syed, also explains how white labeling works: Labs own established recipes and sell them to many competing companies. A $10 drugstore serum or moisturizer and a $100 luxury/celebrity one often come from the very same lab.

According to Dr, Syed, ingredient dusting (minor adjustments or adding a tiny pinch of a trending ingredient) lets brands claim a custom formula while using a default stock product. Frequently, contract labs let sellers decide how much active ingredient goes into a stock formula based on whether they want a marketing level trace or an actual clinical concentration level in their skin care.

So now you know that a $10 Walmart or drugstore skincare knockoff and a $100 luxury/celebrity one are usually exactly the same, and you have insight into what you’re paying for ... is it the ingredients (about $10) or is it (a feeling) the packaging and name?

I highly reccomend all the fantastic Walmart dupes featured on today's blog. Walmart’s version for Noxema Original Cleansing Cream is the only dupe, I’ve tried that fails short of the Noxema brand. The eucaluptus oil cream performs exactly the same, yet smells funky. If you can get over the smell, buy it at half price. Sometimes I return to the name brand for the pleasant smell.🙂

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EDX Metal Utility Cart Storage

How cute and useful are these carts?

I can’t praise this EDX 4-tier metal utility rolling cart enough! At a fraction of the cost, it’s a superior upgrade from an expensive utility cart I bought at The Container Store after a wheel broke off. The Container Store cart was flimsy compared to this sturdy Walmart mobile cart that also has 360-degree rotating wheels. The new cart is heavy-duty mobile storage of greater capacity with locking coasters. I use it in my kitchen, but it could go in any room, closet, or basement where you need vertical and/or mobile storage and organization.

The metal utility cart is adorable in pink or green, but I selected gray to match my refrigerator and stove. Well-constructed and well-painted, I easily move the cart out of the way to open my utility closet or oven.

It arrives in a compact box with tools for assembly. Although it is easy to assemble, I had to text my cousin to ask whether to put the round head nuts on the inside or outside of the cart. He replied that generally they go on the inside.

I need the cart to store the heavy glass lids of my 12-inch chef skillet and wok pan. It is a hassle storing them in my cupboard, since I must remove them to retrieve my other pots and pans. I prefer to simply reach for lids, pots, and pans without having to rearrange them with each use. Call me lazy, but that’s annoying! 

A personal quirk: I dislike filling every bit of storage space to the brink, but love having empty tiers to temporarily put various things until either I put them away or promptly use them.

The EDX Utility Cart comes in either 3 or 4 tiers. I love my 4-tiers! Why waste vertical space?

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Mom Gets A Second Pair of Avia Sneakers

My senior mom walks the length of my hallway once a day, either with her wonderful occupational therapist or me. I want her to have good support for her feet, so I bought her a 2nd pair of the much hyped Avia sneakers that are sold exclusively at Walmart. Great quality for a low price. She does not run in them, but many reviewers who bought them do and have posted photos of themselves running in their Avia sneakers! The brand has 100s of positive reviews.

I can’t review them for running, but I highly recommend them for people who stand on their feet all day or walk a lot indoors. 

Avia sneakers are made of the same durable materials as the major brands, including lots of interior padding and good craftsmanship. Its footbed has odor-resistant properties. They are easier to slip on and off than my mom's New Balance sneakers, plus have more cushioning. Ultra stylish, I bought her the black with pops of color.

Because they are mass-produced for Walmart, you can grab what seems like a too-good-to-be-true bargain and save your expensive sneakers for specialized sports. Although I wear my Nike sneakers until they noticeably wear out, the conventional wisdom is to replace sneakers every 6 months.

Avia sneakers are perfect for all our casual smart outings. The color choice is huge and in flux. Frequently, Walmart reduces the already low price to bring in new colors. The types of sneakers also vary to dupe well-known name brands.  Because the sneakers live up to their hype, we have 2 pairs for daily wear!👟

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The Healthy Food Staples in My Home

I’m not against health food stores, but for convenience, most of my pantry/refrigerator food comes from either a supermarket or Fairway (for deli-type foods, sushi, and fresh-baked goods). I also order dry foods from Walmart and buy milk and eggs from Target Express (they are everywhere in Manhattan; there is no brick-and-mortar Walmart).

The following are healthy food staples I always buy and never let myself run out of stock. I’m not going to list ultra-common spices like salt or pepper, common condiments like mustard, ketchup, or mayonnaise, or common beverages like coffee or tea. I know people who don’t drink milk or only buy a quart of milk for coffee, or never have eggs at home, so I’m listing them. We drink gallons of milk and always have enough eggs for cooking or baking.

Healthy Food Staples that are always In My Kitchen

1) milk, eggs, and all-purpose flour.

2) mushrooms, celery, carrots, tri-colored bell peppers, and onions. Onions last. I chop and toss mushrooms, bell peppers, and celery into the freezer, so when I cook vegetables, soups, stew, pizza, or omelets, I have them ready to incorporate.

3) Oatmeal - one-minute flaked - For cereal or to use as breadcrumbs.

4) Organic cider vinegar, extra-virgin olive oil, soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce, and Cajun spice. There’s nothing wrong with regular cider vinegar; I just think the organic, containing a mother, tastes better.

5) Greek yogurt - If I make potato or macaroni salad, I’ll boost the protein by substituting some of the mayonnaise with Greek yogurt.

6) Avocados, bananas, and berries (strawberries, blueberries, or both).

7) Canned salmon - Salmon patties are great for fast, last-minute dinners.

8) Bread and saltine crackers

9) Bags of frozen mixed vegetables, including frozen lima beans. Who decided to remove lima beans from mixed vegetables? Not me! I return them.

10) Potatoes - My favorite starch. I never get tired of potatoes.

11) Extra sharp New York Cheddar. Other types of cheese come and go, but extra sharp cheddar is always and forever in my refigerator.

12) 1/2 - 3/4 pound deli sliced ham - A pound was always too much, and we had to eat it before it went bad. We grill ham with eggs in the mornings or make sandwiches for lunch.

We eat beef, chicken, rice, pasta, corn, and a variety of other fruits and vegetables, too, but they come and go. The listed foods above are like our basics, so we always restock them before we run out.

How about you?

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A Homemade High Protein Drink

I buy my senior Mom Walmart’s Equate (30 grams with 1 gram of sugar) protein drink to supplement her diet because she doesn’t eat lunch. On Thursday I tried to re-order two 12-packs, but couldn’t have it shipped! It’s because Walmart put it on sale and removed the shipping option. We have no Walmart brick-and-mortar stores in Manhattan for pickup. Rats! So no Equate protein drinks until the shipping option returns.

Meanwhile, I’m making her a homemade high-protein drink alternative:

Homemade High Protein Drink

Ingredients:

1.5 cups (12 oz) milk - 12 grams of protein

1/2 cup (4 oz) Greek Yogurt - 12 grams of protein

1 tablespoon peanut butter - 4 grams of protein

banana, small, or 1/2 large - 1 gram of protein

3 whole walnut kernels - 3 grams of protein

= 32 grams of protein

Directions:

Toss into a blender or food processor. Pour into a glass. Add a straw.

Optional: Tossing in strawberries, cherries, blueberries, or a tablespoon of cocoa powder gives the recipe different flavors and adds nutrients. To further vary the drink, feel free to occasionally add 1/4 cup of chia seeds or oatmeal flakes. Both have protein and fiber.

Many high-protein drinks call for whey protein, but if you have to buy whey protein, you might as well buy the Equate or Ensure already-made drinks. Equate (Walmart’s brand) costs $1.67 each.

Every day I give my Mom 5,000 ius of vitamin D and a multi-vitamin, both drugstore brands.

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Sometimes All We Need To Spend is 29¢

Photo: Amazon

Years ago, we had a great store in Manhattan called Odd-Job-Lot Trading with several locations throughout the city. It followed the model of dollar stores, but the merchandise was of higher quality. Once I bought a 2' by 3' kitchen rug for $4 that cost $17 elsewhere. I got nice pots and pans before T.J. Maxx came onto the scene. Durable kitchen tools sold for under $2, so when I was furnishing my apartment, I bought an apple corker and bread knife before I knew what they were, as my cooking skills were more limited back in the day. One afternoon, a neighbor came into my kitchen and unwittingly told me what the knife I bought was by referring to it as um, a bread knife. 🎆Ohhhh!🎆 Fantastic quality, and now all these years later, I use both repeatedly.

Such closeout stores are fun because the inventory is always changing, and you never know what bargains you’ll find on your next shopping trip.

A couple of decades in, I’m still using my 29¢ pencil sharpener from Odd-Job-Lot Trading. Still looks new, and it’s very sharp to sharpen a pencil in seconds. If I ever had 50 pencils to sharpen at once, I might've considered upgrading, but this simple manual one does everything I need it to do! I don’t need space, batteries, or a plug to use it.

Now my mother needs a pencil sharpener, and I’m considering buying her this 84¢ one from Walmart (↙on the left). Since my cheapee has worked for me, does she really need a more complicated or costly one? Like me, she doesn’t sharpen more than one pencil at a time every once in a while.

Honestly, I’m surprised by how much value I get from my 29¢ purchase. The lesson learned: Don't spend more if a 29¢ pencil sharpener is all we really need! We’ll then have an emergency fund to spend more on goods or services, where you should not go for the lowest price. 

You’ll have the money when it really counts to pay for reliability, proximity, or greater expertise to avoid hassles down the road. A mechanic who fixes your car should give you peace of mind when you call, because you get trusted, reliable service you won’t have to wait more than a day to receive, plus you won’t have to haul your car to the next town to be fixed.

Is it just me, or do you empty the shavings every time you sharpen a pencil?✐✎✏ 

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Spicy Shrimp With Artichoke

Our leftovers for dinner tonight. A light yet filling meal.

I made shrimp at home for the very first time. A one-skillet dinner, it was easy and delicious, so perhaps we’ll eat it again. I made up the recipe as I cooked it; therefore, I'm posting it below to remember how to make it again:

Spicy Shrimp with Artichoke

Ingredients

16 oz shrimp, frozen (Any size of shrimp works, but small is bite-sized without being too small.)

12 oz artichokes, frozen, quartered

1 tablespoon butter

1/2 of an onion, chopped

1/2 cup celery, chopped (I eyeballed it.)

red bell pepper, about 1/2 cup, chopped

 1/2 cup carrots, sliced

A handful of nuts - I used almonds and walnuts, chopped

My homemade Hoisin Sauce --

4 tablespoons soy sauce 

2 tablespoons peanut butter

A squirt so about a tablespoon of honey

2 tablespoons organic cider vinegar

1 tablespoon garlic powder

1/2 teaspoon black pepper

1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes

1 teaspoon hot sauce

A sprinkle of cumin

A sprinkle of salt

Directions:

1) I defrosted the frozen shrimp by tossing it into a bowl with water, vinegar, and lemon juice a few hours before cooking it.

2) Into a 12-inch skillet, I melted the butter and tossed in the diced onions, celery, carrot, and bell peppers. I let it cook covered on medium heat for about 8 minutes before tossing in the bag of frozen artichoke quarters to simmer for another 4 - 5 minutes. 

3) Chop and toss in the nuts. Lift the lid and stir occasionally.

4) Add the shrimp to the skillet and cook for another 3 - 4 minutes. If the mixture gets dry, pour in 1/4 cup of water. I proably added 1 cup of water - 1/4 at a time.

5) Next, I used the ingredients of my homemade Hoisin Sauce, tossing them into the pan: 4 tablespoons soy sauce, 2 tablespoons peanut butter, 1 tablespoon honey, 2 tablespoons organic cider vinegar, 1 tablespoon garlic powder, 1/2 teaspoon black pepper, 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes, and 1 teaspoon hot sauce.

6) I added a dash of salt and cumin near the end, but before the dish finished cooking. Do so to taste.

Hours before cooking my shrimp dish, I separately tenderized 2 cups of dried brown rice in a rice cooker. It takes about 30 minutes but can sit for a while. Brown rice has slightly more fiber than white rice, yet I think people can eat the rice they prefer. I like the chewiness of brown.

We don’t have a Walmart in Manhattan, and I wish we did. Its house brand, Great Value, is excellent and lives up to its name!

On plates, spoon the spicy shrimp with artichoke and sauce over the brown rice. Bon Appétite!🍤🦐

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Why You Should Eat Walnuts Everyday

I won’t lie. I prefer other nuts like almonds and pecans over walnuts, but after I learned walnuts have several health benefits that other nuts don’t, I started using walnuts in place of pecans in many baked goods. Walnuts are cheaper, too. I also make a practice of popping a few walnuts into my mouth and putting a handful into my mother’s oatmeal each morning. 

As it turns out, medical evidence suggests a daily dose of 1 - 2 ounces (i.e., a handful) of walnuts supports heart health, cuts bad cholesterol, supports gut health, and sharpens brain function, plus they may improve sleep with a natural infusion of melatonin.

Walnuts contain essential omega-3 fatty acids (ALA), magnesium, and antioxidants. They reduce inflammation and lower bad LDL cholesterol. Studies show that people who eat walnuts have faster brain reaction times and delayed age-related cognitive decline. Walnuts act as a prebiotic to improve the gut microbiome by increasing good bacteria. Although walnuts are energy-dense, they don’t tend to cause weight gain because they help to manage our appetites.

Here are tips for eating  a healthy dose of walnuts every day:

1) Stick with a serving (1 oz to 2 oz) to control calories. 1 oz = 14 halves. Easy enough, as we don’t tend to gorge on walnuts. 

2) Eat them raw, roasted, soaked in water, or added to cereals, salads, smoothies, or yogurt.

3) Walnuts are beneficial at any time of the day, yet studies show they improve cognitive performance if eaten in the morning.

4) I find Diamond of California to be the better-tasting walnuts without any bitterness. Walmart sells this brand at a cheaper cost then its own store brand, also. I always have a 32-oz bag in my refrigerator or freezer (as well as a big bag of lightly salted almonds as snack staples)

🍍🥚🍍🥛🍍🥚🍍🥛🍍🥚🍍🥛🍍🥚🍍🥛🍍🥚🍍🥛🍍🥚🍍

Here’s a once-in-a-while treat (due to the sugar), perhaps for Sundays or holidays like Easter, to bake using walnuts. If you’re ambitious, you could toast the walnuts for added flavor before using. It’s a scaled-down, less sweet Hummingbird cake:

Pinnapple and Walnut Sheet Cake

2 cups all-purpose unbleached flour

1/2 cup white sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons of baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 large eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 20-ounce can of crushed pineapple with juice
1 cup of finely chopped walnuts

Directions:

1) Whisk together the flour, sugar, baking soda, and salt.

Photo: Indiana Connection

2) Beat in the eggs, then add the vanilla extract and pineapple with juice, and fold in the walnuts. Do not overmix, just enough to incorporate all the ingredients, so the batter doesn’t produce a tough cake.

3) Pour the batter into a well-buttered square baking pan.

4) Bake in a preheated 350 degree F oven for 30 - 35 minutes.

Cream Cheese and Nut Frosting

Ingredients:

8 oz cream cheese (I use low-fat)

2 tablespoons of butter, melted

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

2 cups of powdered sugar or more

1/2 cup of chopped walnuts (These I don’t chop as finely as the walnuts in the batter.)

Mix together except the walnuts. Spread the frosting on a cooled cake and top the frosting with the chopped nuts.

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