Gift Registry

Michael and Betsy have recently registered at Bed, Bath, & Beyond, Belk, Macy's, and Target.

You may notice that we've registered for some of the same items at multiple stores. Our hope is to make things convenient for our guests. Of course, Betsy would like to make sure that you get the best deal possible, so here are some tips (a la her blog Save 4 Fun):

Shop for the best deal. All four of these stores run great sales periodically. Prices can vary from one store to another. That is another reason we have registered for some of the same items at multiple stores. Worried about duplicate gifts? Don't be. We'll handle it. (But getting it marked off the registry at the store where you make a purchase is very helpful.)

Do some comparison shopping not only between the different stores but between a store and its website. I've noticed that a store may offer a significantly lower price on one item in the store than they do online for the exact same item. However, at the same store another item may be priced higher in the store than on their website. Strange, but definitely worth checking into! Particularly watch for this price difference with the Macy's registry. At the time of this posting, I see an item that is 44% less online than in the store because the website offered a sale price. But on the flip side, I see another item that is 218% less in the store than online (and it's not on clearance, but it is on sale in the store).

If you buy something from our Macy's registry online through their Wedding Channel link, Wedding Channel will donate up to 3% of the cost of the gift to the American Cancer Society. There is no additional cost to you or us.

If you are saving for someone to go to college through Upromise, you have several ways to use our registry to help you save. Access Macys.com, BedBathandBeyond.com, or Target.com through the Upromise website and receive a percentage of your total purchase in college contributions to your Upromise account. For Bed, Bath, & Beyond, you have to use a credit card that you have registered with Upromise to get your college contribution. However, it will also work if you use that credit for purchases in the store or over the phone.

If you have a Discover Card, you can receive an additional 5% cashback bonus if you link to Target's website site through the Shop Discover program which can be accessed through Discover.com. Also, Discover is offering a 5% additional cashback bonus April 1 - June 30, 2008, for purchases at department stores when you sign up for the quarterly 5% Cashback Bonus promotion. Macy's and Bed, Bath, & Beyond are also Discover Cashback Bonus partners, so you could get your bonus to stretch even further at these two stores.

Macy's and Bed, Bath, & Beyond often put coupons in the newspaper or send them in the mail. Coupons are great ways to save! (But read the fine print for any restrictions because some of them don't apply to some name brand items.)

The Entertainment Book offers discounts in their book and/or on their website for Target.com, Bed, Bath, & Beyond, and Macys.com.

Finally, if you are going to make an online purchase, check out a website like Coupon Cabin to see if there are any current coupon codes which may get you a discount on the purchase or free shipping. Sometimes you can't combine them with some of the other offers that we've listed, but it's always worth trying.