Shop Smart October 2013

You never know what you’re going to get when you shop at T.J.Maxx and Marshalls, my favorite stores. You might snag the perfect pair of jeans that you’ll never want to take off—or wind up with a dress that you’ll never want to put on. That’s the price you pay for playing the discount shopping game. You win some and you lose some. Admitting defeat is one of the most important lessons you must learn if you really want to save big at those stores. As they say in business, fail fast! If those pants you bought on sale give you a lumpy muffin top, don’t start shopping for a big tunic—take them back before it’s too late. Hurry! No second-guessing. But the most important lesson I’ve learned is, don’t…

1 Get instant savings. Save more in stores by signing up to have sales notifications and special coupon codes sent right to your cell phone via text message. Then hand your phone to a cashier to get the savings. Retailers that send text alerts include Bath & Body Works, Dollar Tree, JCPenney, Kohl’s, Lord & Taylor, Macy’s, Old Navy, Target, Victoria’s Secret, and Walgreens. Go to their websites to get more info and sign up. Or search “mobile text alerts” with the names of your favorite retailers to see whether they offer similar programs. 2 Get local deals. A new website and app make it easier to shop smarter locally. That can boost your area’s economy and help you score special items and the kind of personal service the chains…

TOSHIBA KIRABOOK 13 Price $1,600 ($1,800 with touch screen) Why it’s hot This new 13.3-inch laptop is a gleaming beauty—it’s the MacBook alternative that Windows fans have been waiting for. The Kirabook is pricier than the MacBook Air’s 13-inch model ($1,099), but it’s just as thin and about a half-pound lighter. Our computer gurus say it’s comfy to carry, and they like the feel of the keys. It’s one of the fastest models out there, and comes with lots of memory (8GB), three USB ports, and a memory-card reader. But it doesn’t have a CD or DVD player and the keyboard is not full-sized. Where to get it Amazon, Best Buy, Toshiba Direct…

2014 CHEVROLET IMPALA Price $26,725 to $35,770 Why it’s hot The redesigned Impala is not only our highest-scoring sedan, but it’s also one of the highest-rated cars we’ve ever tested, edging out luxury models that cost thousands more, such as the Audi A6 and Infiniti M37. This reasonably priced car will also give you a very comfortable ride, agile handling, and a quiet, roomy cabin. And we love that it has real knobs in addition to touch-screen controls. Where to get it Chevrolet dealers KUHN RIKON KOCHBLUME SPILL STOPPER Price $24.40 (10-inch) and $26.19 (12-inch) Why it’s hot Many infomercial products don’t live up to the ads, but this silicone pot lid works! Like the YouTube video shows, it stopped our bubbling pots of pasta and rice from spilling over.…

TRU ECO TE-258, $40 If you’re coveting a pod coffeemaker for the speed and ease of getting your a.m. wake-up cup, don’t be swayed by this model’s puny price. It took longer to brew the first cup than many other pod machines we tested. And the coffee is pretty lousy. It’s also fairly hard to operate, refill, and clean. And the temp wasn’t consistent from cup to cup. ShopSmart says If you want a decent pod machine, you’ll have to pay up. A top pick: DeLonghi Nescafé Dolce Genio EDG455T, $130. TOTINO’S PARTY PEPPERONI, $1.32 PER PACKAGE Don’t bring this pie to your party! Our testers got a mouthful of mostly harsh, bitter, dehydrated seasonings. Plus the cheese is mushy and tasteless, and the sauce is red but, strangely, doesn’t…

Vine videos You know about Twitter, but do you know about its video app, Vine? It allows people to post short clips (just 6 seconds). Some are just for fun (Susie kicked a goal in last night’s soccer game!), but they can also be useful. Lots of companies are now posting how-to videos, new merchandise, recipes, and other cool content. How it works As with Twitter, Vine videos can be marked with hashtags to categorize the subject into a trend. So you can follow a person (try #jimmyfallon for funny ones), a brand, or a topic. For example, you can search “#makeup” to find how-to videos submitted by pros, companies, and regular folks. To post a video, shoot one with your phone, then upload it. Friends and family members who…