Deal of the day

Now this is my kind of deal day: lots of killer bargains, no circling for 20 minutes just to find a parking spot.

Rather than highlight a single deal on this Cyber Monday 2012, I've cherry-picked a bunch I think you'll like. Let's get to it:

What's a Kindle without a case? AmazonLocal is offering a free voucher good for 30 percent off any qualifying Kindle accessory. These include cases, screen protectors, reading lights, and the like.

In what promises to be the first of many such discounts, the Microsoft Store has the Acer Iconia W510-1674 10-inch Windows 8 tablet for $399 shipped, … Read more

Happy Black Friday, cheeps! (That's "cheapskates" plus "peeps" in case you're new around here.)

In honor of this crazy day of shopping madness, and to cap off the celebration of my fifth anniversary writing the Cheapskate blog, I've got one seriously killer contest for you.

Because it's a fifth anniversary, I decided one prize wouldn't do -- I needed five. And thanks to some very generous companies, that's what I ended up with. I'm overjoyed with this roster of goodies, which you can easily enter to win by following … Read more

First things first. For those who celebrate it, I wish you a very happy Thanksgiving. Space doesn't permit me to list all the things I'm thankful for, but you can bet you're looking at one of them right now.

Likewise, for those who shop it, I wish you a fun and money-saving Black Friday. Speaking of which, make sure to check in here Friday morning for the Cheapskate Fifth Anniversary Giveaway Spectacular finale. I've got five killer prizes lined up, so this is one contest you won't want to miss.

Speaking of Black Friday again, … Read more

It's hard to reconcile my "cheapskate" title with my iPhone ownership. I do write about the latter for a living, so it's a legitimate expense, but, man, do I hate being locked into a two-year contract at around $80 per month.

I'm stuck with that for now, but you've got options if you want an iPhone on the cheap(ish). For a limited time, and only in stores, RadioShack has the prepaid, no-contract Virgin Mobile iPhone 4S (8GB) for $349.99, or the 16GB iPhone 4S for $449.99. Sales tax applies in both … Read more

What's the only thing better than a cheap deal? A freebie, of course.

As you may recall from last Friday, I'm celebrating five years as The Cheapskate. (Confession: I think it's the single longest job I've ever held. It's definitely the best.) Where, oh, where did the time go?

I don't know (I've looked everywhere, even under the couch), but I'm thrilled to have the chance to offer some great prizes during this monthlong contest-fest.… Read more

This is an update of a deal I posted earlier this year. The first time around, it sold out very quickly, but this time I'm assured the vendor has some 5,000 units in stock.

Not wild about the audio coming from your laptop? No surprise there -- it's fairly miraculous that manufacturers manage to squeeze in speakers at all.

And yet many folks use their laptops as media centers in dens, offices, and bedrooms. So how can you get more aural enjoyment from your games, movies, and music?

Simple: add a sound bar. Even an inexpensive one … Read more

Some sellers are pricing this hard drive at over $100. Just yesterday, I bought one from another seller for $80. Now it's reduced to $50. Ain't that always how it goes? Don't miss out on this handy solution for your non-portable data storage needs.

What: Western Digital MyBook 80GB USB 2.0 external hard drive How much:$49.99 Shipping: Free Where: Buy.com (via Dealnews) When: Through unknown date Click here for CNET product review.

Santa himself uses a bit more advanced version, but this should get you over the river and through the woods to Grandma's house with no problem. The Maestro 3100 is a basic portable GPS system, offered today at a 50 percent price reduction--and free shipping--at BuyDig. This unit's sleek simplicity is one of its best assets, since you'll do all your interface on the touch screen, never getting distracted from the road by trying to figure out which of several buttons to push. The 3.5-inch screen, though not the largest on the market, is crisp, bright, … Read more

With the holidays, as they say, "upon us," you might want to take a bunch of pictures. They're useful for reminding yourself how grandpa looks passed out on the lounger post-turkey, staying in touch with family, and proving that you have friends documenting good times.

If you want an easy point-and-shooter, this might be a good way to go. It's an ultracompact camera with great reviews and a nice discount. Offered elsewhere at $300, it's available at Butterfly Photo for $220.

What: Sony DSC-T20 Cyber-shot digital camera How much: $219 Shipping: Free Where: Butterfly Photo … Read more