If shopping online were a sport, getting the best deal possible from a retailer you trust would be like winning a gold medal. We know you’re already a savvy deal hunter, but it’s time to take your game to the next level. To get the best deal there are a lot of factors to consider: where you buy, what coupons you find, how much cash back you earn from Extrabux.com, how much you pay for shipping, and whether you pay sales tax all impact the final price you pay. But did you know that what day of the week you buy impacts the price too?

We had a hunch that online prices fluctuate in a predictable way throughout the week, but couldn’t find any studies or data to support our theory. So we decided to prove it on our own. We partnered with our friends at camelcamelcamel.com and analyzed the past two years of historical price data from thousands of online retailers and over 100,000 different products to determine for the first time the cheapest days of the week to shop online.

So when’s the best time to buy? Well, that depends on what you’re buying…

Computers & Electronics: Mondays

When it comes to buying computers, TVs, cameras, and video games online, you’ll get the lowest prices early in the week. The first chart below shows the average lowest price across all computers from thousands of online retailers by the day of the week:

We were fascinated by this data so we asked PCRush.com Online Marketing Manager Matt Khalili for his insight. He attributes changes in computer prices to the timing of manufacturer discounts. According to Khalili, “Computer and electronics manufacturers like Dell and Sony apply all their discounts and rebates on Monday and retailers pass these discounts to the consumer.” That would explain why computer prices are lowest on Mondays. Retailers can get computers from manufacturers for less in the beginning of the week, so in turn they sell them to consumers for less.

Computers aren’t the only category where we see this pricing trend. TV prices fluctuate similarly throughout the week, with the lowest prices on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays. As you can see below, be careful not to buy a TV on a Friday – it will cost you!

But why do these prices start to rise as the week progresses? We thought there might be more to it than manufacturer discounts so we asked wwstereo.com Director of eCommerce Bill Hettinger to dig deeper. Hettinger tells us, “Not only do some manufacturers offer instant rebates to lower prices in the beginning of the week, retailers also have the greatest opportunity to attract buzz about their price drops and sales when the offers are first launched.” He added, “Mondays by far are bigger sales days than any other day,” so it makes sense that retailers offer their lowest prices on the day that the most consumers are shopping and sharing deals.

When we crunched the numbers for camera prices, we were surprised to see that unlike computer and TV prices, which rise steadily throughout the week, prices on cameras spike after Monday and pretty much stay there:

To help explain why camera prices fluctuate differently than computer or TV prices, we had a long conversation with Forrester Research analyst and leading ecommerce expert Sucharita Mulpuru. According to Mulpuru, because cameras are significantly less expensive items than computers or TVs and have a much faster upgrade cycle, many electronics retailers use them as promotional leaders to drive traffic on Mondays, when consumers are back in front of their computers from the weekend and most susceptible to online promotions.

As far as video games go, Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays will yield the lowest prices:

As with computers and TVs, video game prices start to spike on Thursday and Friday, decline over the weekend, and hit a low on Monday. What causes this cycle? According to Mulpuru, it’s all about competition:

“Retailers recognize that early in the week is when there is the most competition to capture the attention of consumers, and this competition results in lower prices for consumers. Fridays tend to be light online shopping days, so there isn’t as much competition to attract consumers and as a result prices aren’t as low.”

On Saturdays and Sundays, when employees in charge of monitoring prices are home for the weekend, computer algorithms actually take over most pricing decisions. Many major online electronics retailers have their own pricing algorithms and these programs “compete” with each other for lower prices. If Retailer A lowers its price, Retailer B’s program will take note of the price drop and automatically lower its price just slightly below Retailer A’s price. For this reason, although prices are not as low as early in the week, computers and electronics are typically less expensive on Saturdays and Sundays than on Thursdays and Fridays.

Major Appliances: Sundays

Just as electronics are cheapest on Mondays when consumers are back in front of their computers and looking for deals, online prices on major appliances are lowest on weekends when home improvement projects are top of mind. To prove this relationship between price and demand, we compared the average price across all major appliances to the number of searches for major appliances on Google Shopping:

As you can see, the prices of major appliances are inversely proportional to how many consumers are searching for major appliances (pardon the technical language). In other words, as the number of shoppers increases, the average price decreases, and vice versa.

Jewelry: Wednesdays

Based on the correlation we’ve found between price and the number of searches, Mulpuru suggests that because jewelry skews more female than the other product categories and women tend to shop online most in the middle of the week, jewelry prices are probably lowest when searches are highest.

Also, with jewelry there are far fewer manufacturer discounts and rebates coming out on Mondays, so you don’t see a price drop on Mondays as you do with computers and electronics. “Prices are more demand driven in a category like jewelry,” adds Mulpuru.

Books: Saturdays

As for what causes book prices to be lowest on Saturdays, our guess is that people have more free time to read on Saturdays, which leads to more online shopping for new books. As we have seen, retailers are keen on offering their lowest prices on days when the most consumers are searching for their products.

What does this all mean for online shoppers? Buying on the right day of the week does matter and can make or break a great deal. Keep the above charts handy and check back here before your next online purchase to make sure you or your friends don’t mistakenly buy a TV on a Friday or a camera on a Tuesday—lower prices could be just a few days away.

Now that you know when to buy, visit Extrabux.com to find out where to buy. We make it easy to find the lowest price on any product from over 2,000 top online retailers.

Anyone who has ever stepped foot into a mall can tell you that men and women shop differently. When it comes to what we buy, how we buy and why we buy it, the gender divide is apparent.

But what about when it comes to online shopping? Do age-old generalizations—ladies take longer in the dressing room, men are in-and-out shoppers with tunnel vision—ring true?

We wondered if the same rules apply when men and women shop online. So we started asking questions: Who shops faster, spends more and is more apt to keep that midnight impulse buy? Thanks to the vast pool of shopping stats available to the Extrabux.com crew via our website, we crunched the numbers to find out.

Some of the intel surprised us, so we asked Sucharita Mulpuru, an analyst at Forrester Research and a leading expert on eCommerce, consumer behavior and trends in online shopping, to weigh in on what we found. Here you’ll find a breakdown of the results.

Ladies, have you ever asked a man to accompany you to a mall on the weekend? And did he seem like he’d rather be doing, oh, like a million other things instead? Yeah, we thought so. As it turns out, guys don’t do much online shopping on the weekends either.

In fact, women are much more likely than men to buy online on weekends. As shown in the graph above, guys are much more inclined to shop online on Mondays instead, with 16.4 percent of all online purchases made by men occurring then.

Still, Mulpuru says that doesn’t mean men aren’t hitting the strip mall on the weekends. While men are very driven by the value and price they can find online, Mulpuru says they may still peruse physical stores on the weekend to do some reconnaissance.

“I hypothesize that people, men especially, will do their browsing in a store like a consumer electronics store or an appliance store or wherever it is that they do their physical store shopping and then go promptly to the internet…as soon as they get to work on Monday, looking for the best value for whatever item they want to buy,” Mulpuru says.

While guys do most of their shopping on Mondays, women do most of theirs on Thursdays. That isn’t as easy to explain, but we have a sneaking suspicion that is has something to do with women wanting to finish up their shopping before getting wrapped up in the goings-on of the weekend.

There is a reason why brick-and-mortar retailers love selling to men: Once the product is paid for and out the door, it probably isn’t coming back. Men aren’t known as frequent returners, Mulpuru says.

When it comes to eCommerce, however, our numbers showed that men and women return an equal portion of their purchases. Must be the ease of those peel-and-stick return labels.

And when we looked at who returns online purchases faster, the chart didn’t lie. Guys are much faster to do the deed, with women taking about 43 percent longer to return a purchase then men, which adds up to 30 days vs. 21 days on average. That got us thinking: Do women just have a more difficult time deciding if they should return an item?

Not necessarily, Mulpuru says. It’s more of a matter of priorities—and of trusting yourself to actually remember to make the return.

“If a guy really wants to return something, he’s going to return it immediately,” Mulpuru says. “My husband, if he sees something he doesn’t like, he’s got to take it back within an hour. Otherwise it’s never going to get returned.”

But women take their time. Maybe it’s because they’re too busy to get to it right away. Or perhaps, unlike Mulpuru’s husband and many guys the world over, most women trust that the act of actually making the return won’t be forgotten or buried on a to-do list. Even if they don’t pack up a return right away, most women know it isn’t destined to remain in the closet, unworn, for eternity.

If you’ve ever suspected that your female coworkers are shopping on their lunch breaks, you’re probably right. Our findings showed that women shop online most from 12-1pm. But men wait until after hours to do their online browsing, with eight percent of all purchases made by men occurring between 7-8pm.

Why? Women are busier, and that hour of sweet freedom in the middle of the workday may be the only time they can finally update their summer wardrobes. “They have families at home, and that’s the only time they have, whereas men are more likely to be multitasking in front of the TV,” Mulpuru says. “Even if they are with their family, [men] are breaking out the netbook or the iPad while helping their kids with their homework.”

There is also a pronounced spike for female shopping at 10-11pm, and that’s no fluke. Women shop about twice as much as men in that hour. If you consider that this is often when the kids are fed, bathed and tucked in—and when the to-do list has also been laid to rest—it makes sense.

Remember that age-old shopping rule we talked about earlier—the one that says women always take longer in the dressing room than men? As it turns out, it isn’t much different in the virtual world.

From the time they logged on to Extrabux.com to the time they actually made their purchases, women took about 40 percent longer than guys. On average, women took 14 minutes to make a purchase where men took just 10 minutes.

Mulpuru attributes this to the core ways that men and women consider what they purchase. One is a tactical execution, she says. The other is a philosophical examination.

When men decide to buy an item, Mulpuru says they often research it by quickly going to five websites and purchasing the product from the site with the best offer. “Whereas a woman’s way of considering is, ‘Do I really need this? Let me think about this for another day or couple of days. Let me ask my friends,’” Mulpuru says.

Men are clearly bigger spenders, as they tend to spend 31 percent more on average on an online purchase than women. As Mulpuru points out, this may be a case of men simply buying more items all at once to minimize virtual shopping trips. But there may be something bigger at play.

You see, men tend to be more tenured online shoppers than women. Especially because they are typically the early tech adopters. “Definitely the more tenured you are as a shopper, the more likely you are to buy anything and everything online,” Mulpuru says.

So that humongous home entertainment system the guy next door just bought with a single click on the web—complete with TV, game system, surround sound and Blu-Ray player? That’s not so crazy after all. Veteran male online shoppers are just wired that way.

If we told you that, according to our numbers, annual online spending for men and women usually peaks somewhere between ages 25-44, you probably wouldn’t be surprised.

After all, this is a demographic that has both tech savvy and purchasing power, the dynamic duo behind online buying. Yes, Millenials have the know-how, but they’re lacking the dough. Or, as Mulpuru puts it, “You’re never going to see 18-year-olds driving eCommerce—they just don’t have any money.”

These numbers may change in years to come, as older demographics become more and more comfortable in the virtual world—and as their income travels with them into the tech frontier.

What’s interesting is the spike that happens in annual online spending for both men and women ages 55-64. After dipping off in the prior decade, consumers of both genders seem to undergo some kind of online shopping rebirth once they get midway through their 50s.

So what accounts for the dip in online shopping from ages 45-54? “My only thought would be that women who are shopping online at that age demographic are just busy,” Mulpuru says. “That’s a woman who is in the prime of her career.”

Perhaps the same could be said for men, but their dip is much more dramatic. Maybe men shop less online once they hit the 45-54 range because they’re too busy with their midlife crises. You know, that time when men are supposedly off buying Ferraris, getting hair plug implants, and trolling Craigslist. It’s tough to say. But when it comes to researching stats, even we won’t delve too deep into that one.

Last month’s post about the best and worst states for online shopping sparked a spirited discussion about online sales tax. It also sparked a question: What would be the real effect of taxing all online sales? We used data from Extrabux.com to answer this question and shed some light on the ongoing battle over Internet sales tax.

The only time you’re required to pay sales tax on an online order at the time of purchase is when the online retailer you’re buying from has a physical presence in your state, such as a warehouse, store or office. With states facing a 2012 budget deficit of $112 billion, some are now expanding the definition of physical presence and collecting taxes on more online sales. How much in uncollected tax revenue is on the table?

If every state imposed a tax on all online sales, they would receive an additional $10 billion in revenues per year. That would reduce the average state’s budget deficit by 17%.

In the upcoming Fiscal Year 2012 (for most states, that’s July 1, 2011 – June 30, 2012) 31 of the 44 states that face a budget deficit could reduce their budget shortfall by 9% or more by collecting sales tax on all online purchases made by their residents. Indiana and Iowa could close more than half of their budget deficits, and the six states with balanced budgets would run a combined $500 million surplus.

As online sales continue to grow, so too will uncollected sales taxes. The graph below shows uncollected sales tax by year (January – December). In 2015, over $15 billion in sales tax will go uncollected under the current sales tax legislation.

See total U.S. uncollected online sales tax by state and year >>

We can also estimate the total amount of untaxed online sales last year by dividing each state’s uncollected tax amount by its average tax rate.

Online consumers enjoyed over $118 billion in tax-free shopping last year, which accounted for about two-thirds of total online sales.

See untaxed 2010 U.S. online retail sales by state >>

The only time you’re required to pay sales tax on an online order is when the online retailer you’re buying from has a physical presence in your state; however, New York, North Carolina, Rhode Island, Illinois and now Arkansas, drooling over the numbers above, have expanded their definition of “physical presence” to also include a retailer’s affiliates—including websites like Extrabux.com that market retailers’ products and services. As a result, many retailers are forced to collect sales tax from residents in those five states. Some retailers, such as Amazon and Overstock.com, refuse to work with affiliates located in these states in order to avoid charging sales tax to online shoppers residing there. In turn, many large affiliates originally located in New York, North Carolina, Rhode Island, Illinois or Arkansas have moved their businesses to a neighboring state.

Without action at the national level, states will continue to pass legislation that allows them to collect more online sales tax and expand the definition of physical presence. There will be more contention between online retailers and the states, more affiliates will be forced to relocate, and savvy consumers will simply buy from online retailers that don’t charge sales tax in their state.

The current laws governing Internet sales tax collection were put in place before online shopping existed. In 1992 the Supreme Court ruled that businesses are exempt from collecting sales tax in states where they have no physical presence. Although that case dealt with catalog mail-order companies, the ruling has subsequently been applied to all remote sellers, including online retailers. At the time, mail-order companies argued it would be too complicated to keep track of the different sales tax rules and rates around the country. And the Court agreed, saying that it would burden interstate commerce.

But times have changed.

We live in a digital world where software has eliminated the difficulty of calculating and remitting sales tax. All you need is a zip code and any online retailer can tell you exactly how much tax you’ll pay. In its 1992 ruling, the Court specifically noted that Congress had the authority to change this policy and could enact legislation requiring all retailers to collect sales taxes. That time may be now.

I buy everything online through Extrabux.com and never pay close to full price. Without leaving my chair, I can find comprehensive product details and reviews, compare prices from thousands of retailers, and get cash back and coupons. Frugal online shoppers like me are the reason many local stores are closing down. Are my shopping habits fair or right? I don’t know, but they sure have saved me a lot of money.

I’ve enjoyed this endless tax holiday as much as anyone, ever since I made my first online purchase on eBay over ten years ago. But all good things come to an end.

Two of our most valued commodities in the world today are time and money. That notion is actually why we started Extrabux.com in the first place, to save online shoppers as much time and money as possible. We obsess over it. So naturally when determining the best places for online shoppers to live, we considered four factors; shipping time and costs, sales tax rates and the chance of having to pay sales tax at all–all of which contribute to how much you pay for your online order and how much time you spend waiting for it.

So after analyzing each state’s online sales tax incongruities along with the varying shipping times and costs, we’ve determined the top 5 best and worst places for online shoppers to live–and that we are moving to Delaware.

Five Best States to Live for Online Shoppers

1. Delaware

It’s no coincidence that “It’s good being first” is Delaware’s state slogan as its 2.74 days average shipping time (6th shortest in U.S.), $4.07 average shipping costs (tied 3rd lowest) and 0% sales tax (tied 1st lowest) clearly make it our number one place for online shoppers to live.

Not only do Delawareans avoid paying sales tax on every online order, they have some of the lowest shipping costs and fastest shipping times. The map above shows how many days it takes for a UPS shipment to arrive in Delaware from a retailer distribution center, with the majority of distribution centers in a region with a delivery time of only 1-2 days (in yellow or brown.)

2. Mississippi

The fact that only 5% of online retailers charge sales tax to Mississippi residents combined with its relative proximity to east coast distribution centers make Mississippi our top southern state and #2 on our list.

3. New Hampshire

Although New Hampshire residents may wait a bit longer for their packages (3.52 days on average) they never pay sales tax. We suggest New Hampshirites use the extra money saved on sales tax for expedited shipping.

4. West Virginia

West Virginia residents enjoy some of the quickest shipping times in the country with an average shipping time of only 2.72 days. The #4 state on our list sits right between distribution center hubs in Pennsylvania, Ohio and Kentucky but has a small retailer presence itself—meaning very few online retailers charge sales tax to West Virginia residents.

5. Oregon

Oregon residents always pay 0% sales tax on their online orders; however delivery times are less consistent than other states. While an order from a west coast distribution center only takes a day or two to arrive, shipments from an east coast distribution center take almost a week. On average, shipments to Oregon take 3.8 days.

Check how your state compares to the top 5!

Five Worst States to Live for Online Shoppers

50. Hawaii

Although Hawaii residents don’t pay too much for sales tax (only 4.25% on average), they have to pay the equivalent of overnight shipping for the slowest shipping times in the country. On average, an order shipped to Hawaii costs $19.17 and spends 4.57 days in transit.

49. Alaska

Alaska residents also pay very little in online sales tax (1.7% on average), but the shipping rates and shipping times are just about as bad as Hawaii’s.

48. California

About 50% of online retailers charge sales tax to California residents, which is more than in any other state. Combine that with an average sales tax of 8.96% (2^nd highest) and you’re looking at an additional 4.5% in sales tax costs, on average. In addition, Californians wait 4-5 days for shipments coming from an east coast distribution center.

47. New York

New York residents pay, on average, 8.16% in sales tax with about 46% of retailers charging sales tax to the state’s online shoppers. Although shipping times are pretty quick, the additional costs of tax make New York a costly state to live in for online shoppers.

46. Washington

Because pretty much every non-Seattle shipping distribution center is thousands of miles away, Washington has the slowest average shipping time of all states in the continental U.S. Those long shipping distances also make the cost of shipping more expensive. To make matters worse, Washington has the 5^th highest average sales tax rate at 8.45%.

The scatter plot below gives a visual summary of each state’s average tax and shipping costs and average shipping times.

Before we dive into an analysis of how we standardized tax rates and calculated shipping costs to determine the best online shopping states, a quick lesson in online sales tax: Only when the online retailer you’re buying from has a physical presence (a warehouse, a store, headquarters, etc.) in your state, do you pay sales tax on that order. And every state has a different base sales tax rate, unless you live in one of a handful of states, like #1 on our list, where online shoppers never pay sales tax.

Moving on to shipping… There are only a few factors that online retailers consider when calculating shipping times and costs: your order subtotal, shipping package dimensions/weight, and your distance from their shipping distribution center. Since the first two are the same in every state, your proximity to an online retailer’s distribution center can be what sets you apart from #50 on our list.

Shipping Transit Time

To determine the best and worst states for online shopping, we first considered the location of online retailers’ shipping distribution centers. The closer you are to a retailer’s distribution center, the sooner you’ll get your item.

The majority of distribution centers are located on the east coast, meaning that residents in that region usually receive their online purchases the fastest.

Shipping Cost

For some stores the shipping cost is based on the order total. For many other stores the shipping cost is based on your distance from the shipping distribution center and the weight of the item. To determine the average shipping cost per state, we took a large sample set of popular products on Extrabux.com, each with 2-45 different sellers, and found the average shipping cost per product for 50 different zip codes (one in each state). We then averaged all these products’ average shipping costs for each of the 50 states.

Unless you live in Alaska or Hawaii, shipping costs vary only slightly based on where in the country you’re located.

Sales Tax

Because the sales tax for online purchases can be as high as 11.725% for some cities (in Fredonia, Arizona to be exact), it is an important factor in determining the best states for online shoppers to live. The following map shows the average sales tax rate in each state, which we determined by averaging the total sales tax of every city in each state:

But the above graph only tells half the story. For our purposes, it doesn’t matter how high the sales tax rate in your state is if only a small fraction of online retailers ever charge sales tax there (as with those lucky Mississippians). The following map shows which percentage of Extrabux’s 1,500 retailers charge sales tax in each state, or in other words, in which states these retailers have a physical presence (headquarters, brick and mortar store, distribution center, etc.)

When we multiply a state’s average sales tax rate by the percentage of retailers that charge sales tax in that state, we find the average sales tax you can expect to pay on any given order (officially termed “standardized sales tax rate” by… me).

Voila! So unless you live in Oregon, Montana, New Hampshire or Delaware, you should budget in about 1-5% of your online spending toward sales tax… and another 99% or so toward purchases on Extrabux.com.

Private sale sites offer consumers high end fashion and home goods at marked down prices that will make your jaw drop. We pitted the 10 best private sale sites against each other based on criteria ranging from discounts to usability. When we emerged from this multi-site shopping bender, we put all of our findings together to create this user guide to private sale sites. So, let’s start with what matters most: savings. How does the average price of items at the top five sale sites stack up against what you’d pay when buying retail?

Click to See Full-Size Graphic

When private sale sites (or “flash sales sites”) hit the web, fashion that was only accessible via sample sales or to insiders living in major metro fashion hubs became available to anyone with an internet connection—well, at least to those who had invites to the exclusive sites. Now, private sale sites aren’t so private anymore. Most require little more than an email address before you can start shopping the virtual racks.

In fact, they’re becoming so ubiquitous that it’s getting increasingly difficult to tell them apart. Many flash sale sites operate the same way: They work directly with designers and suppliers to bring you exclusive access to luxury items at unbelievable discounts.

When these sales goes live, they usually only lasts a few days or even a few hours, so sites typically send email blasts to whip shoppers into a fashion frenzy. But before you give your email address out to any site that promises deep designer discounts, you should know which sites will best suit your shopping needs.

To save you the discomfort of an inflated inbox—and, of course, to help you save money—we joined some of the most popular sites and quite literally shopped around. We looked at which sample sales were easiest to shop, fastest to deliver the goods and most accepting of returns (an important detail considering that the limited timeframe to shop can result in some serious impulse buys).

HauteLook is the clear frontrunner when it comes to savings, but we all know that there is more to good shopping than discounts. After all, a site has to carry the products you want to buy, and it must treat you well and deliver the goods once you’ve clicked to purchase. Read on to find out which private sale site is best suited to fill your closet and home.

HAUTELOOK

HauteLook offers high end, big-name brands mixed in with indie designers in categories ranging from fashion (from the likes of Balenciaga, Herve Leger and Christian Lacroix) and beauty (think Stila and Philosophy) to accessories, kids and home brands.

Member Headcount: 2,500,000

Sale Info: HauteLook hosts several sales each week. Sale lengths vary, though each generally runs for 48 hours. All sales begin at 8 am PT, which levels the field among time zones. Each morning, HauteLook members can expect an email invite that outlines the day’s shopping bliss. Sunday email blasts offer a sneak peek of the week’s upcoming events.

Extrabux Discount: Save 3% cash back at HauteLook

Shopability: HauteLook shoppers can organize items by price, size and category. The site also allows you to call dibs on an item by placing it in your shopping cart. The time that you’re allowed to place a piece on hold varies by event, so once you’ve selected a piece, you’ll want to watch the timer to make sure you don’t lose it.

Mobility: No mobile apps available yet.

Shipping: $7.95

Returns: HauteLook accepts returns for apparel only within 21 days for store credit. Expect a deduction of $4.95 from your return credit for shipping. After 21 days, returns are subject to a restocking fee equaling 50 percent of the item’s sale price. All items other than apparel—accessories, footwear, swimwear, intimates, home goods, vintage—are final sale.

Extra Perks: Aside from the $10 credit you’ll get when friends you’ve invited make their first purchases, HauteLook has one serious trick up its sleeve: a collaboration with Lucky magazine. Every Thursday at 4 pm ET, designer pieces handpicked by Lucky editors are up for grabs at the Afternoon Pick-Me-Up sale—a dream come true for anyone longing for a sartorial guru.

BEYOND THE RACK

If you’re looking for options and tons of browsing fodder, you’ll find it at Beyond the Rack. At this site, sometimes as many as 15 events launch daily, which truly sets Beyond the Rack apart from its competitors. Here you’ll find designer apparel, accessories, beauty products, homewares, travel deals, kid gear and more. It’s like a visit to a mall with stores that carry only the labels you want at remarkable sale prices—sans trekking from store to store and waiting in endless lines, of course.

Member Headcount: 1,500,000

Sale Info: Each event starts at 11 am ET and lasts only about 48 hours. As a member, you’ll receive emails about sales based on your preferences, which you can edit to ensure what types of sales you want to be notified about and how often you would like a heads up.

Extrabux Discount: Save 2% cash back at Beyond the Rack

Shopability: You can shop relevant items—shoes, apparel, bedding, rings—by size. Also, when you save an item in your shopping bag, the site will reserve it for 20 minutes.

Mobility: Beyond the Rack allows you to set your preferences to ensure that you receive text message reminders about sales, but the site does not offer any mobile apps.

Shipping: Beyond the Rack charges $9.95 for shipping, and items can take anywhere from two to three weeks to ship out and up to one week from that ship date to arrive on your doorstep.

Returns: You can return most items (with the exception of beauty products, some home goods, earrings and certain apparel) within 14 days for store credit.

Extra Perks: When an invited friend makes a purchase, you’ll be credited $10.

GILT

Gilt’s coterie of the most sought-after, high-end designers (Marc Jacobs and Valentino, anyone?) truly makes it the golden private sale site. If it’s luxe sophistication you’re after, Gilt will not disappoint. With to-die-for designer pieces for women, men and even kids and tots—not to mention home décor and pet accessories—Gilt has all of your glamorous bases covered.

Member Headcount: 2,500,000

Sale Info: Sales start everyday at noon ET and last 36 hours, though you shouldn’t count on items lasting long. The entire stock of merchandise is presented at the beginning of a sale, so dawdling isn’t wise. Read the Gilt Monday-morning email, mark your calendar for choice sales and then log in at 11:55 am (or sooner!) to stave off disappointment over near misses.

Extrabux Discount: None

Shopability: Gilt’s site may be ultra sleek, but it certainly doesn’t place form over function. Aside from browsing by size, you can sort items by ultra-specific categories. If it’s a romper or crewneck you’re after, you’ll find a category for it. Not to mention, Gilt also hosts sales by trend, so if you’re loving the military look for fall, you can find an impressive collection of military-inspired pieces from various designers (everything from trenches and tops to booties and bangles) all in one spot.

The ease of shopping only gets better: If you’re an uncertain buyer, you can reserve items in your cart for 10 minutes, so you can load up at the beginning of a sale and decide later. Plus, you can cancel your order up to an hour after purchase. Gilt also offers a wait list. If an item becomes available after a sale, Gilt will send you an email.

Mobility: You can download the “Gilt on the Go” app for the iPhone, iPad and Android.

Shipping: Prices for shipping typically range from $7.95 to $9.95.

Returns: Gilt accepts clothing and footwear returns for store credit within 21 days with free return shipping. Everything else is final sale.

Extra Perks: For each friend you invite, Gilt will credit $25 to your account once your friend’s first purchase has shipped.

RUE LA LA

While Gilt brings the glamour with the highest of high-end labels, Rue La La oozes youthful, downtown chic. The price points are more affordable, and the aesthetic is certainly more playful than you’ll find at Gilt or HauteLook. Look for finds from up-and-coming designers and some of the most diverse weekly offerings, including homewares (including Bodum’s candy-colored kitchen appliances and Michael Kors home goods) to stays at exclusive five-star hotels.

Member Headcount: 1,600,000

Sale Info: Boutiques always open at 11 am ET and only last for two or three days, so be sure to sign up for email reminders to ensure that you won’t miss your favorite brand. While you can visit the Boutiques page for a looksy at the day’s sales, the emails (which sometimes arrive several times in a day) are a welcome workday distraction.

Extrabux Discount: None

Shopability: When shopping, you can sort items by price and category (for instance, apparel vs. outerwear). But there is no option to sort by size, which does slow down the quest for instant gratification.

Mobility: Rue La La offers mobile apps to ensure that iPhone, iPad, Blackberry and Android shoppers don’t miss any buying opportunities. Plus, you can share the love with your virtual shopping buddies. Use the integrated Facebook and Twitter features with the Android app to show off your buys and invite friends to join, or use the iPhone app’s bump technology to knock phones with friends and invite them to tag along on your virtual shopping sprees.

Shipping: Rue La La offers all-day shipping. Once you place your first order and pay the accompanying $9.95 shipping fee, standard shipping is free for all additional orders you place before 10 PM that day.

Returns: Rue La La is all about options. You can choose to receive a merchandise credit and free return shipping, or you can opt for a refund to the original form of payment minus the cost of return shipping. Some intimate apparel and swimwear items are final sale. And, if an item you’re returning is hefty of bulky, special return instructions may apply.

Extra Perks: When a friend you invite makes her first purchase, you’ll earn $10. Plus, an insider tip for frequent shoppers: If you’re worried that someone will nab your newest find before you can complete the check-out process, save your vital stats. Once you’ve saved your preferred credit card, billing and shipping info, you can hit Rue La La’s “Quick! Buy It” button to shave crucial seconds off of your checkout time.

IDEELI

Once a site for accessories-only shopping, Ideeli (pronounced “ideally”) is now a hub for luxury finds for women, kids and home. If other private sale sites aren’t elite enough for you, you’ll love Ideeli’s 1^st Row access. For $6.99 a month, Ideeli will bump you from the 2^nd Row (read: free shopping) and give you VIP access. Translation: You’ll be a privileged member who gets to shop sales one hour earlier and gains access to 1^st Row-only sales events.

Member Headcount: 2,500,000

Sale Info: Ideeli sales begin at noon each day—unless you’re among the 1^st Row members, who get first dibs on the goods at 11 am ET. Sales often last less than 36 hours. An hour before each sale event, Ideeli sends out an email blast to members. Ideeli also notifies members of giveaways via email or text. If it’s freebies you’re after, the site hosts weekly giveaways that allow all members a chance to win crave-worthy prizes—just be sure to enter quickly to avoid missing the brief window for entries.

Extrabux Discount: None

Shopability: Ideeli offers several options for organizing your searches—size, price, bestsellers and Ideeli faves.

Mobility: If you think your social media accounts and Ideeli would make for a happy marriage, you’re right. Once you’ve opted to receive text messages from Twitter, you can simply follow Ideeli to have the latest shopping dish sent to your phone. You can also connect your Facebook and Ideeli accounts for easier log-in and the ability to share Ideeli events on your newsfeed.

Shipping: For all items, shipping is generally $9.95. As with Rue La La, Ideeli offers all-day shipping. Once you’ve placed your first order for the day, shipping for all additional orders is free until midnight PT.

Returns: Ideeli’s 14-day return policy applies to shoes and some apparel—that means no returns on accessories, home décor and the like. Return shipping is free, and you’ll be able to use the refund for store credit.

Extra Perks: Oprah fans rejoice: Ideeli has launched The O Shop, a sale section where editors from O, The Oprah Magazine curate their favorite items. For two weeks each month, the O experts showcase their picks, ranging from food to fashion and everything in between. Ideeli also offers a $25 refer-a-friend credit.

EBAY FASHION VAULT

eBay has long been a destination for fashionistas who engage in heated bidding wars over designer clothing. (If you’ve been a bidder, you know that a lust-worthy designer piece can cause some serious e-drama.) So it makes sense that the site would spread the fashion love and start offering direct-from-designer products via its Fashion Vault. While you may not find pieces that are as high end as what you’d score on Gilt or HauteLook, you will find new, in-season designer clothes and accessories and even capsule collections from the likes of Narciso Rodriguez.

Sale Info: Sales for each designer last for 60 hours or less. If you join the Fashion Vault “In Crowd,” which you can do with the click of a button after you first log on, you’ll get extra perks, including early access to sales, invites to secret sales and exclusive coupons and promotions.

Extrabux Discount: Save 1-4% cash back at eBay Fashion Vault

Shopability: Finding the perfect piece with the Fashion Vault is as easy as it gets. Aside from its clean, simple layout, the site categorizes its offerings by piece—dresses, jackets, handbags and so on—and then lets you sort by price and featured items. If you already have an eBay account, you can link it with your Fashion Vault account just by signing in with your usual eBay log-in information.

Mobility: You can follow the Fashion Vault on Twitter for info about sales, but the site doesn’t offer any mobile apps.

Shipping: Shipping is where the Fashion Vault really has other flash sale sites beat. And by beat, we mean it’s free—always. No need to worry about how much your spoils will cost to ship. Items are typically delivered within 9 to 13 business days.

Returns: Items can be returned within 14 days, but the return shipping will cost you $8.95.

Extra Perks: Aside from free shipping and $10 bonuses for friend referrals, regular eBay shoppers will appreciate the familiarity of shopping via the Fashion Vault. Once you’ve set your sights on a tasty fashion treat, you’ll find that the item’s product page is very much the same as any other you’ve encountered when shopping on eBay. And, with so many private sale sites to choose from, there certainly is something to be said for a friendly face.

EDITORS’ CLOSET

Prada, Balenciaga, Valentino, Fendi… if it’s high end and highly covetable, you’ll find it here. Editors’ Closet is all about the luxury brands that are the trappings of, well, a fashion editor’s dreamy, label-filled closet. If you dream in Moschino and Stella McCartney, this hub for clothes, accessories, shoes and more just may become your newest shopping addiction.

Sale Info: At Editors’ Closet, sales start at 11 am ET and last anywhere from 24 to 72 hours. But with limited quantities of merchandise, you can bet that if you want it, someone else wants it, too. Be sure to check the site’s calendar to see what labels will be hitting the virtual racks.

Extrabux Discount: Save 4% cash back at Editors’ Closet

Shopability: You can only sort items by price, which isn’t exactly helpful when you just know you want a pair of Prada peep-toe pumps in a size 7. But at these prices, who’s complaining?

Mobility: Shoppers can keep watch for Editors’ Closet sale info via Facebook and Twitter and can visit the site’s blog for some juicy tidbits on what’s to come. Alas, the site offers no mobile apps yet.

Shipping: Editors’ Closet offers same-day shipping for in-stock merchandise if you order before 2 pm ET. Yes, you read that right—same day. And you’ll get free shipping for all orders of more than $75 (like we needed any more incentive to spend!).

Returns: Editors’ Closet accepts returns within 14 days for store credit, but shoppers will have to foot the bill for return shipping. Unlike many private sale sites, Editors’ Closet does accept returns on footwear, accessories, beauty products and even swimwear and intimate apparel if the items are unworn and the security tag is still in tact—a relief to anyone who fears spending most of next month’s rent on a gorgeous pair of shoes before trying them on.

Extra Perks: You’ll get $25 in virtual cash to spend when you refer a friend. Plus, if you’re into suspense and even better discounts, watch for the Editors’ Closet “Going, Going Gone” sales. The site’s editors may be tight-lipped about what you’ll find each time one of these last-chance sales launches, but the prices and selection often live up to the hype.

EZIBA

If you’re more into home décor than fashion (or if your closet is simply too stuffed and you’ve deemed the ottoman your new object of affection), meet Eziba. Brought to you by the people at Overstock.com, Eziba offers deep discounts on home goods, accessories and appliances from major brands. Expect to find items that are a bit more upscale than the typical Overstock.com inventory, including brands like C.G. Sparks, Kitchenaid and Lenox.

Sale Info: Sales start at 11am ET and last between 48 and 72 hours.

Extrabux Discount: None

Shopability: When it comes to home décor shopping, you don’t exactly need to sort by dress size. But the ability to organize area rugs by price or artwork by size would be nice. While you won’t find any categories that increase ease of shopping, those who are already Overstock.com members will find that their account info has carried over to Eziba, which does simplify login for some. Buyers can also use Paypal and Bill Me Later options.

Mobility: No mobile apps.

Shipping: Just like Overstock.com, your entire order ships for $2.95, which is oh-so exciting when you realize that a couch ships for the same price as a candlestick.

Returns: Eziba issues full refunds within 30 days.

Extra Perks: There is no bonus for friend referrals, but did we mention that you’ll only pay $2.95 to ship that huge sectional sofa?

ONE KING’S LANE

If you’re passionate about building your nest but want designer décor items that are a bit more high end than what you’d find on Eziba, skip on over to One King’s Lane. This design hub features décor, home essentials and items to help you entertain in style. If you’re in need of a housewarming or wedding gift—or any kind of present, for that matter—you’ll surely find it here. Be sure to stop by “The Pantry” for specialty spices and herbs, imported specialty foods and exceptional ingredients (the black truffle risotto kit from New York City’s Primizie Fine Foods had us salivating). And don’t miss the site’s impressive selection of beautiful coffee table books.

Sale Info: At least three new sales launch each weekday at 11 am ET and last 72 hours. Members receive daily emails that announce new events and provide designer dossiers.

Extrabux Discount: None

Shopability: One King’s Lane allows you to sort items by price and by availability, which helps you avoid the inevitable letdown when you realize that an item you really, really want is sold out. Plus, the site will hold selections in your cart for you for 15 minutes.

Mobility: No mobile apps.

Shipping: Expect 12 to 20 business days for orders to arrive. Shipping rates vary depending on how much you spend. Spend less than $50, and your shipping cost will be $7.95. Spend $200, and shipping will be $15.95. If it’s furniture that you’re after, note that shipping costs and arrival times for bigger pieces may be higher.

Returns: The site accepts returns within 14 days for store credit. You can find out what items are eligible for returns on each product page.

Extra Perks: Rather than just giving you credit when you refer a friend, One King’s Lane spreads the love. Friends you invite will get $15 for joining, and you’ll get $15 when friends make their first purchases. Not sure how to spend that $15? Check out the site’s “Get Inspired” feature for design ideas and then hit up the “Tastemaker Tag Sales at Twilight,” which feature products curated by leading designers.

ZULILY

Zulily offers daily deals on hard-to-find items for babies and kids, including apparel, hip nursery décor (yes, it does exist!) and goodies for moms. Zulily carries boutique-worthy gear—we’re talking European high chairs and cribs, organic baby duds and modern art for children’s rooms—at up to 70 percent off. The site is perfect for busy moms with discerning taste and anyone looking for sure-to-please gifts for baby showers.

Sale Info: New sales launch every day and last up to 72 hours, and members receive daily email alerts full of tempting deals.

Extrabux Discount: Save 4% cash back at Zulily

Shopability: Zulily allows you to sort items like clothing and artwork by size, but be sure you know baby’s size because returns can be tricky.

Mobility: No mobile apps.

Shipping: Orders ship within 10 to 14 days. The cost of shipping varies by item—and baby furniture and other bulky items may carry additional charges—so be sure to check the shopping basket to verify shipping charges before completing your order.

Returns: Zulily typically doesn’t accept returns or exchanges, but shoppers can check the product information page to see if an item is eligible for return. Returned items that Zulily does accept will be credited toward a future purchase.

Extra Perks: Invite friends and get $10 to spend when they place an order. Added bonus for moms with camera skills and especially photogenic babies: Zulily hosts a weekly photo contest. If your child’s photo earns the most votes, you’ll win a $10 credit. Plus, if your cutie is chosen as the month’s winner, you’ll win an extra $20 credit and your photo will be featured on the site’s sign-in page.

I don’t like paying full price for anything, which is actually one of the main reasons I co-founded Extrabux.com in 2006 while in college. During that time I figured out a (genius) system that saved me about $1,200 per year on textbook costs. I have the textbook buying system down to such a science that I’ll show you how to get your textbooks for about $22 each:

We all know that a college education is expensive. According to The New York Times, 80% of college students graduate with more than $36,000 in loans. While we here at Extrabux can’t do much about lending rates or the job market awaiting grads, I can offer some advice to help students save hundreds of dollars on textbooks every semester.

The average undergrad can spend more than $1,000 each year on textbooks alone. While brick-and-mortar campus bookstores still draw a large amount of business, 30% of college students are now buying their textbooks online, where required reading often comes at a cheaper price.

But not all online textbook brokers are equal. Using online data that I’ve compiled from a number of sources, I crunched the numbers and created the definitive cost-saving guide that can help students cut their annual textbook expenses by 90%. Before I get into how students can save, let’s take a look at how   consumers typically shop for textbooks.

How do online consumers shop for textbooks?

There are three options for online textbook shoppers:

1. Buy
2. Rent
3. Download

As you’ll see in the graph below, which I created using data from Google Trends, while textbook rentals are catching up, the vast majority of online consumers prefer to buy used textbooks, and for good reason (read on).

The cheapest textbook sites

Half.com has the best prices on used textbooks. Chegg.com has the best prices for textbook rentals. As for new textbooks, students should simply avoid them at all costs.

In my quest to find the best way to buy textbooks online, I’ve checked in with a host of popular merchants to see how their rates stack up. In the graph below, I took the average price of a random sample of textbooks sold by all of the merchants selected.

My analysis confirms what I already learned from my college days: When it comes to textbooks, newer isn’t better—it’s just more expensive.

• A new textbook costs about 50% more than a used textbook.
• Half.com has the best prices on used textbooks.
• Textbook rental sites like Chegg can provide big up front savings to students who don’t want to provide textbooks with a permanent home on their bookshelves.
• Renting textbooks can save about 37% up front compared to buying textbooks used.

Given these numbers, I know what you’re thinking: Rent, don’t buy. Not so fast. Let’s take a look at the long-term savings when you buy your textbooks and sell them later.

Where to sell your old textbooks

Abebooks.com gives students the most cash for their textbooks.

So it’s time to get rid of old textbooks—now what? There are several websites that buyback student’s old textbooks. While most universities have textbook buyback programs, selling online pays more. Using the same sample set of textbooks as above, I’ve charted the average buyback price from each merchant below.

As you can see, students get about 20% more from Amazon than from the runner-up, Abebooks.com. However, it’s worth noting that Amazon doesn’t pay cash for textbooks. Instead, the site issues an Amazon gift card for the amount, which students can use to buy textbooks on Amazon the next semester (assuming they have old books lying around and they will need to buy textbooks next semester).

To simplify this decision-making process, I’ve created a chart to help students determine where to buy and where to sell, depending on whether they also need to buy textbooks, hock old ones or engage in any combination of the above. Think of it as the choose-your-own-adventure of buying and selling textbooks.

Rent vs. Buy and Sell

Renting textbooks may save students some cash up front, but they’ll save a whopping 46% per semester by buying and selling textbooks as opposed to renting them.

How do students get the most money back for a textbook they don’t want to keep around?

To answer this question, I used the same textbook sample set as above, subtracted Abebooks.com’s  average buyback price from Half.com’s average used price for those textbooks and then compared that to Chegg’s average rental price for those textbooks. (Please excuse our math lesson).

Enter the mathematic payoff: Renting textbooks may save students some cash up front, but they’ll save a whopping 46% per semester by buying and selling textbooks instead of renting them.

Granted, this analysis does not consider that a semester of use may slightly decrease the buyback value of the textbooks, but a textbook’s buyback value would have to decrease by about 50% for renting to be cheaper. So, as long as students are not conducting chemistry experiments with their actual chemistry textbooks, values shouldn’t decline much over time.

Need convincing? The graph below, which was compiled using data from BookScouter.com, shows that the average buyback price history of all textbooks in our sample set doesn’t change much during the course of a few semesters.

Selling textbooks: Timing is everything!

Students can sell their textbooks for as much as 28% more by selling during the right months. July, August and January are the best times to sell while April and December are the worst times to sell.

For students looking to sell old textbooks, I have one important lesson to impart: Timing is everything. Well, that and this nugget from Economics 101: The best time to sell is when demand is high and supply is low. When it comes to textbooks, this means that students will get the most money for their books if they sell them when there are a lot more people buying rather than selling textbooks.

When exactly is that time? Using data from Google Trends, I’ve created a graph that shows when the textbook market is most lucrative.

When I compare the difference between the number of  searches for “used textbooks” versus the number for “sell textbooks,” the peak times to sell become apparent.

Based on that trusty theory of supply and demand, it’s clear that the best months to sell textbooks are July, August and January. And, as the chart shows, the worst months to sell are April and December (especially before Christmas).

If you need more convincing, take a look at the next chart. To confirm that the theory of supply and demand does in fact influence online textbook buyback prices, I overlaid the demand (minus) supply graph with a zoomed-in version of the average textbook buyback price history graph from earlier.

The supply and demand of used textbooks significantly affect the buyback price. In the course of a couple months, the fluctuating number of sellers and buyers in the market can affect the buyback price by as much as 20%—that translates to about $12 per book! Even non-math majors can rejoice in those numbers. The best time to sell this year will be the week of August 23^rd.

Now that we’ve completed today’s lesson on textbook economics, I’d like to hear what you have to say. How do you prefer to buy textbooks? Is buying used and reselling at the right time too much of a hassle, or is it worth the savings?

As you’re reading this, I’ll be rumbling along the interstate in a moving van piloted by my mister, a few miles closer to my new home in Nashville. So it’s pretty safe to say that I have travel on the brain and that I’m very much consumed with thoughts of newness and starting over. After all, with a new city comes new hope and opportunity. What’s the sense in fearing change, anyway?

Speaking of change, you’ll soon notice that this very blog is quite different. After more than 100 blog posts in which I’ve shared my personal shopping lists—all of the styles, products and gorgeous pieces I’m obsessing about—the Extrabux blog will be going in an exciting new direction. Starting next Tuesday, you’ll notice some amazing changes here.

While the creators and masterminds behind Extrabux are cooking up some great new things to share with you, I’m thinking of overstuffed boxes and what life in a new city will bring. So let’s talk travel, shall we? Nothing says “I’m going somewhere exciting and fabulous” like a chic piece of luggage.

I’ve put together a luggage roundup that features some of the cutest, most stylish pieces out there. Take a little looksy and dream of travels of your own. I would say, “Bon voyage, mes amours,” but this really isn’t goodbye—it’s simply a hopeful “see you later.” And don’t forget to check back here on Tuesday to see what’s in store for the Extrabux blog.

1. Barrel Tote, Bodhi (bloomingdales.com): This washable coated linen tote in a sophisticated color combo has tons of inner pockets and a separate bottom compartment for a pair of shoes or other travel necessities—brilliant!

2. Betty Collection 20-inch Wheeled Duffel, Diane von Furstenberg: It’s electric pink, lightweight and fits in the overhead compartment. What’s not to love? Oh, and did I mention that you can nab it for about a quarter of the original price?

3. Graceful Traveler Wheeled Carry-On, Amy Butler for Kalencom: Famed fabric designer Amy Butler lends her graphic genius to this bag, which combines 100 percent organic cotton with rich leather handles and accents.

4. Foldover Crossbody Tote, Olsenboye (jcpenney.com): Searching for a carry-on bag that is both sleek and affordable? Look no further than this crossbody tote, which looks far more luxe than the price tag (less than $30!) suggests. Not to mention, the bag’s floral lining is a sweet surprise!

5. Laptop Sleeve, Juicy Couture (nordstrom.com): How cute is the print on this PVC-coated cotton laptop case? It reminds me of delicious green apples.

6. Hardside Cubis Three-Piece Set, Heys USA: Eliminate all baggage carousel confusion with a set of neon-hued luggage in the most covetable shade of mustard yellow.

7. Medium Laptop Skin, Orla Kiely (piperlime.com): Orla Kiely is the queen of chic retro patterns, and this laptop sleeve with durable leather handles is no exception.

8.  Pretty Nylon Pouch, Marc by Marc Jacobs (shopbop.com): Let me guess, you’ve been traveling with the same beauty product pouch for decades. Consider this magenta nylon pouch a chic (and long overdue!) upgrade.

9. Giselle Collection Rolling City Bag, Diane von Furstenberg: With its snakeskin print and classy feel, this bag embodies all that is luxury travel.

10. Xcase Exotic Polka Dots 20-Inch Carry-On, Heys USA: This bag may be known as the world’s lightest carry-on, but it’s the retro, oh-so-graphic dot print that sold me on this piece.

11. Palma Hip Bag, Tory Burch (shopbop.com): I know what you’re thinking, but this isn’t your grandma’s fanny pack. It’s just far too sleek for the early bird dinner special.

12. CH-97 Carry-On Duffel in Green, Victorinox: If you’re a one-set-of-luggage-for-the-whole-family type, you’ll love this duffel. The no-frills look and superior burst-resistant zippers will satisfy him. And the sleeker-than-average styling of this duffel will certainly appeal to her.

13. Marni Duffel Bag, Amy Butler for Kalencom: An unapologetically girly duffel bag? I love pieces that are studies in contrast!

14. Dopp Kit, Bodhi (bloomingdales.com): When it comes to traveling with shampoo, toothpaste, shaving cream and the like, spills aren’t just probable, they’re inevitable. The coated canvas lining of this luxe dopp kit ensures that product spillage won’t cause any turbulence upon arrival

(Images: Elizabeth Ulrich)

Admission: I haven’t watched the eighth season premiere episode of Project Runway—yet. I’ve never missed a season of the show though, so rest assured that the July 29 premiere is waiting patiently on my DVR. While I haven’t checked out the new 90-minute episode (more Tim Gunn—yes, please!) or made my early winner predictions, I have kept up on this season’s news.

If you watched the premiere, perhaps you noticed that the Bluefly Accessories Wall is no more. This season, Project Runway (airing on Lifetime Thursdays at 9 pm et/pt) has teamed up with Piperlime to bring you the aptly named (and newly green-hued) Piperlime Accessories Wall.

When it comes to Bluefly vs. Piperlime, I won’t pick sides. Followers of this blog know that while I often feature Piperlime products here, I also have a bit of an ongoing love affair with Bluefly, as evidenced here, here and here. But what I will say is that the Piperlime Accessories Wall comes with one big added bonus: It’s shopable!

The same accessories that the designers use to bedeck models stomping down the Project Runway, um, runway, are also available for purchase on Piperlime. (You can also visit Piperlime.com for exclusive, behind-the-scenes footage from the show each week.) Just what I need—more reason to procrastinate whilst frequenting the shopping site.

I’ve visited the shopable Piperlime Accessories Wall, and I must say, it’s a tasty treat for uber-fans and regular shoppers alike. I couldn’t resist sharing which accessories I’d pick if I was, you know, an ultra-talented designer on a reality TV show. As you can see, I gravitated to the neutral-hued pretties. Which accessories from the wall are your faves?

1. Metal Fringe Necklace, Kenneth Cole (piperlime.com): This mixed-chain necklace has the kind of tough-girl charm I can’t resist. Wouldn’t it pair perfectly with a frilly, flowing feminine dress?

2. Full Frame Clutch, Abas (piperlime.com): So slim and ladylike, this clutch is thin enough to stash in any bag and pretty enough to carry on its own for a night on the town. Plus, with tons of card slots, pockets and even space for a pen, it’s the ideal wallet.

3. Marisela Oxford in Slate Suede, Hive and Honey (piperlime.com): Oh, how I love an oxford shoe! I’d buy a pair of these now and stash them away for the fall, when I would pair them with every pair of tights (in every hue imaginable!) that I’m dying to wear once the seasons change.

4. Santogold Shoulder Bag, Matt & Nat (piperlime.com): The synthetic suede of this vegan shoulder bag is as buttery as real leather and as perfectly pink as cotton candy. What’s not to love?

5. Beige Multi Strand Necklace, Hive and Honey (piperlime.com):Ever since I laid eyes on the J.Crew summer catalogue, I’ve been absolutely obsessed with tear-drop bead necklaces. Don’t you just adore the wheat-colored beads?

6. Meris Boot, Michael Antonio (piperlime.com): The studs, the straps and the tan hue—perfection! Even if you aren’t model tall or model skinny, these stunners will give you legs for days.

(Images: Elizabeth Ulrich)

Real outdoorsmen have no need for fashion or stylish outdoor tools, right? If they have two sticks to rub together, I’m sure they’re just dandy. But your average outdoorsy guy might appreciate some style-conscious gear. I know my mister certainly does. In fact, his fashionable-dude-meets-camping-expert persona inspired this selection of woodsy gear.

When the mister in question took one look at this shopping list and gave his nod of approval, I knew I was onto something. Even men who love fishing, hiking and campfire building can be deeply into style. Yes, they’re also into Gor-Tex this and waterproof that, but they also appreciate sleek, stylish and all-around impressively designed gear.

These picks are every bit as manly as they are just plain fun to have in his closet or messenger bag. So, if your man can’t even roast a marshmallow—let alone reel in dinner—I’m guessing he’ll appreciate any one of these accessories nonetheless. Awesome guy stuff is just awesome guy stuff—even if his last brush with nature involved a riding lawn mower.

Listed clockwise starting from top left:

1. Survival Kit in a Sardine Can, Gaiam (gaiam.com): I don’t care much for hiking, camping or any activity that could create a scenario in which a survival kit might come in handy, and I’m still impressed by this kit. Obvious design genius aside—how great is the sardine can styling?—this waterproof tin holds everything. It fits in your pocket and includes everything from a whistle, matches and first aid necessities to fishing gear, duct tape, tea and oodles more. Translation: It’s the best $13 you’ll ever spend on him.

2. Straw Fedora, Gap (gap.com): The best way to get him out of his college baseball cap rut? Give him a better option. This woven straw fedora will keep the sun off his face while he is blazing the trail (or just lounging in the backyard).

3. Strala Vinter Boot in Olive, Tretorn: If he’s trudging across the damp forest floor—or just walking your puppy on a rainy morning—he’ll appreciate a pair of waterproof shoes. The subdued olive green hue and subtle graphic stripes add to the sleek appeal of these boots, which are streamlined and light enough to wear on a wet commute to work.

4. Metal Lensatic Compass, Stansport: There are plenty of amazing GPS options on the market, but don’t you think there is a certain retro appeal to a well-designed compass? This durable metal version features direction digits and a needle that are large and luminous for exact bearing and a precision positive stopper for accuracy.

5. Tagger Bag, BKE (buckle.com): Disparaging talk of the man purse (also known as a “murse”) is ridiculous. Whether he’s toting around fishing line and lures or a pen and notebook, every guy needs something to hold his stuff, right? This no-frills sturdy canvas version has a military toughness that should meet all manly standards.

6. The Worst-Case Scenario Little Book for Survival by Joshua Piven and David Borgenicht, Chronicle Books: With step-by-step instructions on how to survive everything from an alligator attack to a run-in with quicksand, this pocket-size book contains hours of entertainment for guys. Trust me, when my mister cracks open any book in this best-selling series, nothing can tear him away.

7. Two-Quart Classic Vacuum Bottle, Stanley: This heavy duty Stanley stainless steel bottle is an oldie but a goody. My dad had one. Your dad had one. Heck, everyone’s father toted his coffee in one of these double-walled, unbreakable wonders. Aside from its classically cool, nostalgic allure, this guy has been around forever for one simple reason: It’s built to last a lifetime.

(Image: Elizabeth Ulrich)

A few weeks ago, I promised to bring a bit more Mad Men­­-inspired style to this blog, but I had no idea that I would have such great news to share with you. I simply was planning to hop from store to store, piecing together looks worthy of Joan, Betty and Don.

Of course, that was before a little birdie (mind you, not the Birdie, Mrs. Draper herself) told me that Mad Men’s brilliant costume designer would be releasing her own retro-inspired capsule line for QVC. (If it’s anything like Rachel Zoe’s QVC line, I’m sold.)

Emmy-nominated costume designer Janie Bryant will be launching a ’60s-themed capsule collection for QVC on September 29. And, if the teaser photos of the line are any indication, Bryant sure does love a good animal print. Yes, I realize that mid-summer isn’t exactly the ideal time to dream of fur (it’s all faux fur, so we can all breathe a collective sigh of relief!). But I simply couldn’t keep this news to myself.

You see, I’ve been swept away by the Mad Men storyline, but I’ve been absolutely obsessed with Mad Men style since the first few minutes of the series. (Of course, this shouldn’t be news to any of you after my effusive cooing over the Mad Men collaboration with Banana Republic.)

The new line, called Janie Bryant MOD, will feature 20 pieces of outerwear, pants, skirts and sweaters and nearly as many pieces of costume jewelry—all priced from $26 to $138. Bryant says we can expect to see outerwear like fake-fur jackets and capelets, brocade boleros and swing coats.

And no Mad Men­-esque line would be complete without pencil skirts (very Joan Harris at the office, I’m sure) and skinny pants (think Betty lounging at the Draper residence). Then there will be the crystal pendants and pins, which will look stunning on the cardigans you already have in your closet.

Aside from the iconic show itself, Bryant says she was inspired by her grandmother’s closet and jewelry box. “I used to dress up as a little girl, and spend hours dressing and accessorizing my dolls, and this line brings back memories of a fond and fun time,” she says. So sweet!

Now that you’ve had a sneak peek, what do you think of new collection? Are you excited? I’ve always been a fan of animal prints, so I can’t wait until the line’s debut this fall. The two coats are my early frontrunners. While I love the rich raspberry hue of the swing coat, I absolutely adore the faux fur capelet. I imagine that I’d be wearing it to dress up my standard skinny jeans-and-a-cardigan combo.

So which pieces are your early favorites? Be sure to mark the September 29 QVC debut on your calendar, lest you miss the opportunity to channel the retro chic style of the ladies of Mad Men.

(Product Images: Courtesy of QVC)