Dollars & Sense: Make plans to sale away in 2006

A couple of the Twin Cities' best sales are history -- Target Direct's "I Love a Deal" catalog clearance and the venerable Bachman's warehouse sales -- but plenty of other good sales remain.

Here are nearly 50 good sales to help you spend less. Some retailers might change sale dates or locations, so call before heading out.

January

26-Feb. 4: Creative Lighting bargain room sale (1728 Concordia Av., St. Paul, 651-647-0111). Discounts up to 75 percent on lighting, home hardware, lamps, mirrors, floor and table lamps and jewelry. Other sale dates: half yearly sales March 23-April 8 and Nov. 2-18, bargain room sale Sept. 14-23.

February

1-7: Neiman Marcus Last Call (505 Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis, 612-339-2600). Fifty to 65 percent discounts on men's and women's clothes and Gift Gallery items.

1-14: Bargain Seeker storewide sale (Cherokee Center, 6278 Boone Av. N., Brooklyn Park, 763-533-0435). Fifteen percent off entire stock of Target's returns. All men's, women's and kids' swimwear and shorts will be $2.

1-15: Harriann Upholstery annual fabric sale (4404 Abbott Av. S., Minneapolis, 612-922-9224). Thirty percent off all slipcovers and designer fabrics, including Kravet and Duralee, with an upholstery order. Labor for most chairs is about $475, for most sofas $975.

1-28: Master's Edge knife sharpening special (2010 E. Hennepin Av., Minneapolis, 612-379-1300). $1 per knife, plus specials on refurbished Wusthof.

1-28: Nash Frame Design mirror sale (10 S. 13th St., 612-338-9041 and 3107 W. 50th St., Minneapolis, 612-924-0809). Forty percent off all custom and in-stock mirrors.

4-5, 18: Kiwi Beach warehouse sale (1530 E. Cliff Rd., Burnsville, 952-858-9530, www.kiwibeach.com). Forty to 90 percent off brightly colored clothes for juniors, women and kids, including Fresh Produce, Roxy and Billabong. Cash, checks only.

7: Nordstrom Rack shoe tag sale (Mall of America, Bloomington, 952-854-3131). An extra 35 to 50 percent off the lowest price on selected shoes. Other sale dates: new arrivals on March 14, April 21, tag sale on May 2 and a large-size shoe event May 20.

9-March 15: Len Druskin clearance (first level Southdale near AMC 16, 952-927-7923, www.lendruskin.com). Fifty percent discounts on men's and women's high-end designer clothing, accessories and shoes. Note the Southdale, not Galleria, temporary location. Closing date may change.

10-14: Electric Fetus music and gifts Valentine's Day Sale (2000 4th Av. S., Minneapolis, 612-870-9300). Twenty percent off all new and used CDs, DVDs and gifts (except smoking accessories). Other sale dates: June 7-11 and Oct. 27-31.

11: Marshall Field's warehouse sale (701 Industrial Blvd., Minneapolis, 612-623-7111). Savings on furniture, framed art and rugs. Other sale dates: April 1, May 6, June 24.

14: Red Balloon sale (891 Grand Av., St. Paul, 651-224-8320). Fourteen percent off storewide at the children's bookstore.

18-20: Crafts Direct Outlet President's Day sale (11151 Greenbrier Rd., Minnetonka, 952-252-7043). Fifty percent off all floral and spring outdoor garden merchandise.

17-20: Outlet mall Presidents' Day sales (Albertville, Medford, Tanger in North Branch). Fifty percent markdowns in many stores on holiday weekends. Also Memorial Day (May 26-29), July 4 (1-4), Labor Day (Sept. 1-4) and Columbus Day (Oct. 6-9).

20: Unique Thrift Store holiday sales (Columbia Heights, New Hope, St. Paul, 651-489-5083). Additional 50 percent off all items on most major holidays, including Presidents' Day.

20: Arc's Value Village Thrift Store Presidents' Day Sale (Brooklyn Center 763-503-3534; New Hope, Richfield, www.arcsvaluevillage.org). Fifty percent off all items. Other half-off sale dates: May 29, July 22-23, Sept. 4.

March

5: Minneapolis Home & Garden Show plant sale (Minneapolis Convention Center, 952-933-3850). Buy landscaping plants during the unadvertised sale from 5 to 8 p.m., including spring bulbs (about $1) and shrubs (about $15). Bring your own bags and $1 and $5 bills. Admission is $10.

9-12: Half-Price Books (Apple Valley, Coon Rapids 763-784-1500, Maplewood, St. Louis Park, St. Paul). Twenty percent off storewide. Other 20 percent sale dates: Dec. 26-29.

17-April 13: Smith & Hawken prepare your garden sale (Maple Grove 763-488-1876, Edina and St. Paul). Twenty percent off selected window boxes, trellises, edgers, arches, tools and hose accessories. Get free cushions with any outdoor furniture purchase.

30-April 1: David Rosenberg's sample sale (location TBD, 612-343-3221). Women's, men's and children's midline clothing, including spring and summer knit tops, blouses, dresses, pants, jackets, coordinates, plus sizes and jewelry. Best bargain: the $3 and $5 racks.

31-April 2: Habitat for Humanity warehouse sale (113 27th Av. NE., Minneapolis, 612-331-4090 ext. 677). Save 50 to 75 percent on new and used doors, windows, tools, furniture, vanities, lighting, fixtures and carpets.

31-April 1, 7-9: Gage & Gage gift wrapping/accessories sale (660 Industrial Circle, Shakopee, 952-233-2081). Bows 25 cents or less, boxes 25 cents to $2, gift bags 50 to 75 cents, ribbon, tissue, wrapping paper $2 to $7 and paper plates. Combine this sale with the soup ladies' nearby (see April 6-8) and the Canterbury Craft Sale April 7-9 at Canterbury Park (www.canterburypark.com).

April

6-8: North Aire Market warehouse sale (689 Canterbury Road, Shakopee, 952-496-2887). Maggie and Mary's dry gourmet soups (about $4 at the sale), sauces and cheese ball mixes sell for about 40 percent less at the sale than at the usual suppliers such as upscale grocery stores and gift shops.

6-8: Starlight Candles warehouse sale (2000 W. 94th St., Bloomington, 952-885-9600). Fifty to 90 percent off high-quality scented candles and accessories. No checks.

18-22: PPL anniversary sale (850 15th Av. NE., Minneapolis, 612-789-3322). Everything in the high-quality surplus store is discounted further. Other big sale: Nov. 24-Dec. 2.

15: Textile Center of fiber arts garage sale (3000 University Av. SE., Minneapolis, 612-436-0464). Yarn, patterns, tools, equipment, fabric, beads, buttons and related items. April 14 is dropoff day. Proceeds benefit the center.

20-21, 24: University of Minnesota reuse warehouse silent auction (883 29th Av. SE., Minneapolis, 612-626-9152). Items include office furniture (some midcentury modern), supplies and computer accessories. Other sale dates: Aug. 24-25, 28.

26-29: Stroke of the Heart warehouse sale (3792 Williston Road, Minnetonka, 952-945-9495). Locally designed greeting cards with simple watercolor designs priced as low as 20 cents each at the Stroke of the Heart's sale. Also, 25 cards for $5 or 25 cents each, note pads $1, magnets $1 and boxed note cards $4. Other sale date: Oct. 25-28.

28-30: Midwest Mountaineering outdoor adventure expo (309 Cedar Av. S., Minneapolis, 612-339-3433 and www.midwestmtn.com). Ten to 50 percent discounts on outdoor supplies and clothing for camping, climbing and hiking. The website lists activities during the sale.

20-21: Sample It sample sale (Days Inn, 7851 Normandale Blvd., Bloomington, 612-377-6981). Samples from spring and summer merchandise for men, women and teens. Other sale dates: July 27-28, Nov. 16-17.

May

1-12: University of Minnesota Coffman Union Bookstore clearance (300 Washington Av. SE., Minneapolis, 612-625-6000). Final clearance of overstock, sweatshirts, T-shirts, caps, jackets, school and office supplies and some books. Discounts of 25 to 75 percent outside on the plaza.

6: Lonnie Lovness jewelry sample sale (450 N. Main St., Stillwater, 651-430-2234 and www.lonnielovness.com). Fifty to 75 percent discounts on necklaces, pins, watches, earrings and bracelets from $9 to $50.

June

7-18, 16-27: Nordstrom half-yearly sale for women and children (Mall of America, Bloomington, 952-883-2121. The half-yearly sale for men is June 16-27 and Dec. 26-Jan. 6.

21: Linder's Greenhouse flower marts plant sale (Call 651-487-8565 for locations). Fifty percent off all perennials, annuals and shrubs at Linder's Greenhouse flower marts (38 satellite locations). The sale does not apply to the garden center on Larpenteur Av. in St. Paul. If you can't wait, plants are 33 percent off June 1.

17: Irish Books and Media warehouse sale (1433 Franklin Av. E., Suite 20, Minneapolis, 612-871-3505). Twenty percent discount off regular stock and up to 80 percent off overstocks and damaged books.

29-July 19: Body Shop semiannual sale (Southdale, Rosedale and Mall of America, 952-858-9752). Fifty to 75 percent discounts on old favorites brought back, discontinued items and select current stock.

July

4: Goodwill storewide sales (651-379-5800 or www.goodwilleasterseals.org). Fifty percent off all merchandise. Other 50 percent off sale: Sept 4.

14-30: Nordstrom anniversary sale (Mall of America, Bloomington, 952-883-2121). Preseason discounts on new fall merchandise storewide.

August

3-6: Buffalo, Minn., occasional sales. Second Hand Rose (609 Soo Lane, 763-684-0124), The Porch (32 1/2 Central Av., 763-684-1254), Three Sisters Collectibles (18 Central Av., 763-682-4701) and Barn Chix (18 1st Av. NE., 763-245-1927). Pick up a map at one of the stores for additional sales in the area. Buffalo's occasional sales are held the first Thursday through Sunday of each month.

SEPTEMBER

16-17: General Store tent sale (14401 Hwy. 7, Minnetonka, 952-935-7131). 50 to 75 percent on country, Victorian and contemporary home furnishings, Minnesota crafts, seasonal gourmet foods and children's items.

October

5-7: The Thymes warehouse sale (location TBD, Minneapolis, 612-338-4471) Discounts of 50 percent or more on high-quality body lotions, creams, bath salts, colognes, candles, sachets and gift sets. Most items are overstocks, discontinued or scratch-and-dent merchandise.

November

1-5: Animal Humane Society book sale and silent auction (845 Meadow Lane N., Golden Valley, 763-522-4325). Books, records, tapes, CDs for children and adults. Includes autographed first editions. Admission is $5 from 5 to 8 p.m. on the 1st.

3-4, 17-18, Dec. 1: Europa Imports warehouse sale (1360 E. County Road E, Vadnais Heights, 651-486-6860). Scandinavian-style iron candle holders, candles, crystal, wedding accessories and gourmet foods at 40 to 60 percent below retail.

16-18: Minneapolis Public Schools Dept. 56 sale (Zuhrah Shrine Center, 2540 Park Av. S., Minneapolis, 612-455-1530). Candles, stationery, ribbon, wrapping paper, gift bags, ornaments, tabletop pieces and seasonal merchandise at 50 to 90 percent below retail prices.

December

1-2: Minneapolis College of Art and Design art sale (2501 Stevens Av. S., Minneapolis, 612-874-3700 or www.mcad.edu). More than 8,000 original artworks, most under $150. Admission is $35 on the 1st, free Dec. 2.

John Ewoldt may also be contacted at •612-673-7633 or by sending a fax to 612-673-4359. His articles are online at www.startribune.com/dollars.