Times are getting tough for some. And that can mean putting off the purchase of a new piece of furniture, or even toys for your kids. Well, here's one way of getting around that problem: Trash picking.

But not just going through someone's litter. I'm talking about checking out the bulky waste pickup schedule for the nearest affluent town and then going for a little drive...in a friend's pickup.

As I related in a recent New York Times article, there are treasures to be had in some of that trash: one woman I know picked up an entire bedroom set, including headboard, frame and dressers. Someone else found a coffee table. I've found numerous kids' toys, including ride-on cars, a beautiful wooden kids' workshop, and a double baby jogger stroller.

Much of the "trash" that people put out is actually in fairly good condition; sometimes it's as simple as cleaning up an old plastic toy, changing a spark plug on a lawnmower or replacing a broken glass door on a cupboard to make something almost as good as new. In fact, lots of people put out perfectly good used items with the hope that someone will pick them up. This assuages some of their guilt about buying something new, says Elizabeth Royte, the author of "Garbage Land: On the Secret Trail of Trash," a look at the social, economic and environmental aspects of garbage disposal.

Royte says she has picked up an espresso machine and even some great children's clothes in her Brooklyn neighborhood. Wealthier neighborhoods, of course, have better pickings, especially since those residents tend to do a lot more remodelling. They may change things in their house just to update the style, and not because they need them. People with money may also be more inclined to buy something new instead of taking the trouble to repair an older item, says Royte. She adds that it's becoming more socially acceptable to pick up things from the trash. So don't be embarrassed: go for a drive and you just might find that perfect coffee table you've been looking for.

After my son lost his second fleece jacket at school, I started searching online for another one. Since he has a little brother who will one day wear his hand-me-downs, I wanted a decent jacket that we could keep for a few years...or until my son loses it again.

LL Bean had some nice fleece jackets at a reasonable price, but the colors were unattractive. Same with Land's End. I decided to try Patagonia (or PataGucci, as some people call it.) Patagonia had just started its winter sale, but I hesitated to spend the money on the jackets I saw on the website. Hesitation is often the killer of such deals, and when I went in the next day to splurge, I found that everything I'd liked had already been snapped up.

Then I found this site: A fantastic discovery for outdoor gear and clothing for the entire family.

I quickly found (and bought) a Patagonia kids' Marsupial fleece jacket in willow bark (otherwise known as brown) for only $41, on sale from the regular price of $59. Upsideover.com also had a Patagonia El Cap lightweight zip-t fleece jacket for only $30 ($20 off the full price), and a Patagonia kids' reversible puff-ball jacket for $69 -- $30 off the regular price. These are great deals if you like to buy Patagonia clothes for your kids, and you missed the big Patagonia sale. The website also sells jogging strollers, child carriers, bike trailers, and other outdoor gear. For even more savings, here's the preferred customer discount the site gave me with my order: Use coupon code FB350 on your next order, and receive 10% off.

Do I hear a "thank you, Mom?"

Ever go into a store and think, "This place is terrible! The service/merchandise/smell is so bad, it should be shut down?"

Well, here's my list of those mall stores that don't deserve to see the light of the next One-Day Sale:

• Macy's -- The service is nearly always bad, the clothes and other items are usually a mess, and the quality of much of the merchandise is poor. Apparently, the store brings in cut-rate merchandise to sell at its infamous One-Day sales, instead of actually marking down its regular stock. What a scam.

If you're looking for a cute little number to wear on Valentine's Day, check out the Anthropologie website. This high-end trendy retailer has many clothes, including blouses and tanks, on sale at amazing prices -- with some starting at only $9.95. Many are perfect for spring. Take a look at this lovely red studio jacket, now on sale for $49.95, down from $158. This jacket will add a bit of romance to any evening. Hurry, these sale items go fast.

The site also already has shorts and capris marked down. Anthropologie has fantastic housewares, too, which are a real steal when they are on sale and are also available on the store's website. If you have an Anthropologie nearby, it's always worth checking out the sale racks in the store. Again, clothes that usually go for $100 and over can be found at very reduced prices.

Here's a great way to save money and have fun at the same time: Cook with a friend. I started cooking with my girlfriends a few years ago, and found it was the perfect way to catch up with a friend while I stocked my freezer with dinner for my family, treats for my kids, and baked goods for an impromptu brunch.

The other day, my friend Alison and I made vegetable stew with rice at my house. While our kids played happily, we pooled our ingredients and took turns peeling, chopping and stirring. Within an hour we both had a delicious dinner for the night, and enough leftovers for lunch the next day. Then Alison had the idea to take the leftover leeks and make a yummy leek and potato soup as well. Another meal to check off the list.

Cooking dinner can often be a tedious chore -- especially with kids underfoot -- but do it with a friend and it becomes a fun get-together. Plus we saved a ton of dough by buying in bulk, then sharing our ingredients and making at least three meals together. Several months ago, Alison had the idea to turn this fabulous notion into a Yahoo site and now a website. It's a great way to set up cookie and appetizer exchanges and get some food in your freezer for a later date. This year, a group of friends and I pooled our time and efforts and made granola and biscotti as teacher gifts -- a huge hit, and also a money saver as well. Check out Cookingwithfriendsclub.com for fantastic recipes you and your friends can cook together.

The Daily Deal for January 14, 2008 is yet another fantastic post-holiday catalog sale. For some great after-Christmas deals, check out the Garnet Hill website. This luxury-goods catalog is having its annual sale and clearance on clothing for women and kids, and bedding and home products. Get a merino v-neck striped sweater for women for $18, marked down from $78; or some adorable flannel pajamas for kids for only $18 (Monday only). The much-coveted women's boiled wool mules in pink, sky blue and rose are marked down from $62 to only $28 (a real bargain).

The sale ends Tuesday, January 15.

The news that The Bombay Company, a home furnishings chain, was closing all of its U.S. stores, didn't come as a huge surprise to me. I must have walked in and out of that store at least a dozen times without buying anything.

It always looked so tempting when you walked by the window displays – visions of my house furnished as an olde world-style gentleman's club always ran through my head. But once you got inside, the traditional-style furniture always looked a little tatty; you could already see the chips and nicks on the display pieces. All the furniture seemed to be made out of some type of compressed wood, covered with a veneer, which made it impossible to repair.

I guess cheap furniture dolled up to look expensive doesn't work in this marketplace. Either you have cheap furniture and you're proud of it (see Ikea) or customers will go for something a bit higher end, such as Crate and Barrel or Pottery Barn.

That said, Bombay Company, which had several hundred stores, did have a certain charm. The stores had a great collection of blue and white porcelain, and some attractive lamps. And if you were looking to furnish your house or apartment on a budget without looking too much like a college dorm, Bombay furniture could pass muster – as long as you kept the lights down low and didn't look too closely.

This post was written as part of a series on on 2007 departures. Read about more products, companies and people you won't see in 2008.

Levitz, one of the oldest furniture stores in the country, announced in December that it would close all of its 76 stores.

It's sad to see longstanding businesses shut down after so many years. This is actually the third time in 10 years that this family-owned store has gone bankrupt, so it's no surprise the business is closing for good. It did have a catchy ad, though: "You'll love it at Levitz!"

Walking into the cavernous stores could be rather overwhelming – so could looking through all the mediocre furniture. Now all the customers with returns, credits and warranty problems will have to tussle with a store that's trying to liquidate all of its products as quickly as possible. Levitz is offering 20-50 percent off its furniture to get rid of all its merchandise.

Apparently, customer service at the stores has gone belly up, and no one is helping customers who have had deliveries of damaged furniture and other problems. Anyone trying to get a bargain there right now should remember that a store that's closing won't be offering much in the way of quality and service.

This post was written as part of a series on on 2007 departures. Read about more products, companies and people you won't see in 2008.

Boden, the stylish clothing company from England, just started its annual winter sale -- just in time for Christmas, if you hurry!

With up to 50% off many items, this is a good deal for high-quality clothing for women, men, kids and baby. Check out the colourful women's wool coat, on sale for $74 (half off its original price); or the favorite v-neck cardigan (now $34). The men's check architect shirt is now only $34, and the lambswool everyday crewneck is only $29. If you're buying, better hurry up -- this stuff sells out fast.

Prices are good until Dec.31.

Red Envelope, the luxury gift catalog, is offering $50 off orders of $150 or more. This is the place to go if you can't figure out what to get your picky wife or husband.

Red Envelope specializes in unusual, high-end gift items, from stacking birthstone rings to a wooden catch-all valet case that comes with a charging station for his iPod or Blackberry.

Other interesting items include a mother-of-pearl and silver mother-daughter pendant necklace (on sale for $48), a battery-operated golf range finder that takes the guesswork out of club selection (on special for $25), and an Italian herb garden with three glazed ceramic pots (on sale for $24). It also has gift for babies, kids and pets.

Sit down and get tapping. The discount is only good until 11:59 pm, Thursday, Dec. 13. Enter the code SAVEBIG during checkout.