Internet Porn

...and by "porn", I mean house porn. You know, paying for it. Shopping.

I spend a horrendous amount of time on the internet. Time that probably should be spent stripping paint from hardware or finishing the kitchen floor is taken up with cyber-stalking coveted items on shopping sites and obsessing about the color degradation of my ancient monitor misrepresenting a certain lampshade color. In my mind, I have furnished this entire house 6 times. In reality, we are still sleeping on mattresses on the floor.

Below are a few of my favorite shopping/dreaming sites, whether I actually buy anything from them or not. Actually, I probably spend the most money at the Home Decorators outlet, as I have gotten some really high-quality, wool rugs there for not much money (compared to the POS I bought a Lowe's that was expensive and turned out to be crappy).

Of course, there's the Pottery Barn catalog, along with Ballard Designs, Home Decorators (as well as their outlet) and Restoration Hardware. I have also had a lot of luck with Lamps Plus and Overstock.com (I have spent actual money on these sites). Off the beaten path, we can find Grandin Road, and, for you castle dwellers, Design Toscano. For modernists, we have Room and Board and Design Within Reach (HAH!). And, if you are ridiculously endowed with cash, we have Source Perrier and WS Home.

Home Decorators and their outlet always have a coupon running for $10 off a $5o purchase. You can easily find the code online through a Google search, or just sign up for a catalog, which will come with a coupon. There's one in the mail all the time.

Of course, don't shop ANYWHERE online until you have signed up at Ebates. When you register (free) and then enter sites through their portal, you can get like 3% and up cash back on your purchases. Each purchase is registered to their site, and every three months or so they send you a check. I make out like a bandit at Xmas, and then ususally get back around $15 per check, depending on how much I shopped. Since I usually order house checks, cat meds, lighting, hotel rooms and food online, I always see who is going to hook me up with the biggest discount and use them (well, not always, but usually). It's totally worth it, and you have nothing to lose if you never use it.

If you want to check it out, use this link:

http://www.ebates.com/rf.do?referrerid=FDKIXw6AN9M5r%2FLHCatT1A%3D%3D

(FULL DISCLOSURE: IF YOU USE THIS LINK, SIGN UP AND THEN BUY SOMETHING, I WILL MAKE $5.00. MAYBE $10 THIS MONTH. MY EMAIL ADDY IS SARADEEL@GMAIL.COM. DO IT. YOU KNOW YOU WANT TO. YOU ARE GETTING VERY SLEEPY.)

The most I've ever gotten back was about $23 for around $250.00 spent at four different stores; your results may vary. But really...it can really help you rationalize some purchases. Sometimes that cash back covers the shipping. Sometimes, it will bring the price in below another web site. There's all sorts of reasons to use it. Mainly because I GET $5.00 when you sign up.

Really, it's SHOPPING! I wouldn't steer you wrong.