Get 100 to 200 percent return on bonus gift cards

Get 100 to 200 percent return on bonus gift cards The best deal of the more than 20 restaurant gift card offers I've written about is from Morrissey Hospitality Companies, which owns the Saint Paul Hotel, the St. Paul Grill, Pazzaluna in St. Paul, Restaurant Max in Hotel Minneapolis as well the hotel and restaurants Tria in North Oaks, and Enjoy! in Apple Valley. Here's the deal: Buy $100 in gift cards from any of the seven businesses and get a $20 gift card for each of the following: Pazzaluna, Restaurant Max, Hotel Minneapolis, Tria and Enjoy! for a total of $100. The original gift card or cards are transferable, which means that if you give someone a card for Pazzaluna, he or she can use it at Enjoy! too. The five bonus cards must be used by March 31, 2010, and are valid only at the specified location. There are no minimum purchase restrictions on the bonus cards, but there are two caveats: The bonus can only be applied to food, not drinks, and most of us aren't likely to use the $20 bonus to the Hotel Minneapolis (applied toward a room). The gift card offer continues through Dec. 31.

Make a $25 donation Thursday or Friday to First Book, a nonprofit literacy program (www.firstbook.org), at Neiman Marcus (505 Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis, 612-339-2600) and get a $50 gift card to use in Neiman's through Friday. The $50 gift card cannot be used for Last Call on 4, Chanel, alterations, trunk shows, gift wrap, shipping or catalog items. Get the best bang for your buck by applying the gift card toward markdowns already discounted 25 to 50 percent or for cosmetics that never go on sale. Neiman's accepts cash, checks, American Express or a store charge for payment. All plus-size clothing, $3 each

It's been two years since the last overstock sale from BandLu.com, the locally based Internet retailer that sells trendy plus-size fashions for women in their 20s to 40s. The next sale is from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at Edgcumbe Recreation Center, 320 S. Griggs St., St. Paul, 763-496-1225, www.bandlu.com. Items are samples, slightly damaged or overstocks, including dresses, skirts, tops and jeans for all seasons in sizes 14 to 30. Everything is $3, regularly $28 to $78. Co-owner Chris Sholl said this sale has a much larger selection than past sales. Only cash is accepted.

What's a 'holiday warehouse sale'? I checked out the "holiday warehouse sale" in Lakeville last week. You might have seen their ads for items discounted up to 80 percent, including gift wrap, chocolates and gourmet mixes. The sale is put on by Geckler Companies, which supplies prizes and products for school fundraisers. Shoppers I interviewed liked the gift wrap deals ($2.50 per roll), especially the heavier weight paper from American Greetings. Nearly everything at the sale is $2.50 except for an American Idol DVD game for $10 (compare at $8 to $16 online) and frozen foods such as pizza bread ($6), desserts ($5), soups ($5), cookie dough ($5-$6). There is an excellent selection of stocking stuffers, but the quality is similar to dollar stores. Examples include presidential flashcards, candle snuffers, hide-a-key rocks, wind chimes and playing cards. You have to walk the warehouse aisles to view the products. The sale is from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. weekdays, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturdays and noon to 6 p.m. Sundays at 8095 W. 215th St. (County Rd. 70), Lakeville, 952-469-5580). It ends Dec. 22.