Wowzers! Ben Sherman, the ultra chic UK brand, is offering 25% off all purchase online or in store. Built for the slim trim, Ben Sherman has just the right look for a crisp, clean, style. Online, enter the code MATESRATES09 at check out. To redeem in store, print out the flier listed below. Offer good from April 9th - April 13th.

What’s better than a custom ice cold salad and your choice of 7 succulent soups? Why a buddy to share the moment with! Souplantation is having a Buy One, Get One Free (BOGO) coupon. This offer is valid with a purchase of one regular priced adult and two beverages. The total comes out to roughly $15+ (depending on your sales tax). Not too bad for a fashionista on a budget. Better hurry, this offer is good till Thursday April 8th, 2009.

And there’s more. It’s Lemon month all April long. Enjoy favorites like Summer Lemon Tossed Salad with Spiced Pecans, Lemon Chicken Orzo Soup and Hot Lemon Lava Cake (after 4 pm).

Don’t forget to follow Souplantation on Twitter to stay up to date on the latest Souplantation crazy.

Yum…

We’re all super psyched that President Obama has taken such a proactive role in aiding our failing economy. One of President Obama’s first proposals is the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act’s goal is to provide tax breaks and incentives for families, individuals, and businesses.

Just in case you’re curious as to how this effects you, here is a summary of the proposal:

• Tax credit - individuals get $400 and couples get $800. This tax credit will be spread throughout the rest of 2009 in the form of reduced federal tax withholding taken from worker’s paycheck.
• Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT) will be adjusted annually for inflation.
• First Time Home Buyers -  will qualify for a $8000 tax credit (prior $7500). The repayment requirement of the first-time home buyer tax credit has been removed.
• New Car Buyers - will be allowed to deduct all state and local sales taxes paid on the purchase from their federal income tax.
• All Homeowners - can qualify for a tax credit up to 30% of their cost if they install certified energy efficient windows, furnaces and air conditioner.
• College Tuition - Students or parents can qualify for a tax credit of up to $2,500 for tuition and related expenses during 2009 and 2010.
• Unemployment - people who receive unemployment compensation will not have to pay taxes on the first $2400.
• Small businesses - allows a 3% withholding tax on payments to business that sell goods or services to the government. Business that reduce it’s debt will be allowed some delay of tax.

For further details, visit Economic Stimulus Package

This is nothing but good news for the Economy but I really wonder at the end of the day, how much will this really effect my bank account? Hopefully this economic stimulus package will have a greater positive influence on the economy than last year’s.

So I just found out that California has just signed a budget bill (hooray). Too bad it calls for a raise in sales and income taxes (boo). I suppose now I have to do all my shopping online and out of state.

If you want to read more about California’s $130 billion budget, click here

Obama Calls Wall Street Bonuses ‘Shameful’  - damn right these Wall Street Tycoons should be reprimanded for their bonus. We bail their butts out and allot themselves $18.4 billion in bonuses. They need to be regulated.

British Airways to allow cell phone data and SMS usage on London to JFK route - finally! someone listened. Woot for Internet and text in the air. I never believed that 1 text could take down a 747. 

Verizon Wireless reports fourth quarter 2008 earnings - High five for some positive news. The Blackberry Storm must be doing some good.

AT&T claims 1.9 million new iPhone 3G activations during Q4 2008 - the iPhone has such a strong pull in the market. Image the iPhone as a giant and all the other smart phones as tiny people. I can’t wait to see the David that conquers Goliath.  

California controller to suspend tax refunds, welfare checks, student grants - IOU? are you serious? I wonder if we can use the IOUs to pay for our taxes. I mean it’s only fair right?

We all know Planet Funk is horribly over priced. Especially in today’s economy, most people cannot afford $300 premium denim. Well, it’s not that people cannot afford it but more like people choose not to spend that money. Well with all over priced fashion items, there will be unsold inventory. The best way to get rid of unsold fashion inventory is by having a warehouse sale! It’s a great opportunity for savvy shoppers like us to score the clothes we dig and still have money for gas.  

Planet Funk’s Warehouse Sale

Dates:

11am – 6pm Saturday 7th February
1pm – 7pm Sunday 8th February

Where: 7565 San Fernando Rd. Burbank, CA. 91505

Payment Methods: Cash & Credit Card Only

2009 - There is no shame in being a savvy shopper. 

oooh…. another sample sale! Hudson Jeans‘ Annual Warehouse Sample Sale. 

Savings of 60%-80% on everything… Womens size  24 -32 and Mens size 29 - 40.

Hudson Jeans Warehouse Sample Sale 

Dates:

8am – 4pm Friday 12th December
8am – 4pm Saturday 13th December

Where: 6409 Gayhart Street, Commerce, CA 90040 

Payment Methods: Cash & Credit Card Only

Puma will be hosting a series of free HAPPY 60th BIRTHDAY PUMA concerts. See if you’re one of the lucky four cities that scored a free concert:

City: New York City (December 1,  2008 - 9 pm)
Artists: Chester French, The Knux, Charles Hamiliton, Jus Ske 
Location: Music Hall of Williamsburg, 66 North Sixth Street, Brooklyn, NY 11211

City: West Hollywood, CA  (December 8,  2008 - 8 pm)
Artists: Plain White T’s with special guest DJ Adam 12
Location: Roxy, 9009 Sunset Boulevard, West Hollywood, CA 90069

City: San Francisco, CA  (December 9  2008 - 9 pm)
Artists: Steve Aoki with special guest Lady Gaga
Location: Great American Music Hall, 859 Ofarrell Street, San Franscisco, CA 94109

City: Chicago, IL  (December 10,  2008 - 9 pm)
Artists: The Bravery
Location: Metro, 3720 North Clark Street, Chicago, IL 60613

You can pick up your tickets at selected PUMA stores, for a list visit PUMA.com 

These concerts are free to the public but all events are subject to capacity so get there early! 

*****EDIT*****

The concert was AWESOME. Although I do wish that PUMA would have notified us that the Plain White T’s was to come on at 11 pm, not 8 pm as indicated as the starting time of the concert. Shame on PUMA! Truth be told, there were less people at the concert than I anticipated but that’s better for me! I was so close to the stage, I could feel the heat radiating.  

Here’s a clip of Plain White T’s live performance of 1,2,3,4 at The Roxy.

Enjoy!

Launching the new MINI E at the Los Angeles Auto Show on November 19, 2008, BMW has officially made an all electric vehicle not only green friendly but tres chic. The MINI has a certain swagger that makes a person’s head do a 180 as it zooms by. But don’t think you’ll be seeing these cars soon, the MINI E will be released to only a handful of cities. Luckily, it’s coming to LA and NY! For LA, only 500 MINI Es will be available this round and over 10,000 MINI-fanatics have already applied. With a handful of all electric competitors (Tesla, iMiEV and Smart) the MINI E definitely has a competitive edge.

Topping at 95 mph and hitting 0-60 at 8.5 sec., the MINI E has a nice kick. The downside is that it’s going for $850 a month, that’s $20 less than the lease price of a BMW 7-series. Looking to cost an estimated minimum of $65,000, the MINI E is not a toy. Considering how a base MINI runs around $25,000, it maybe better for some to stick with the basic MINI.

A girl can dream can’t she?