Finance tips

Sponsored Post: Shopping with American Express Membership Rewards

By  | 
Pictured: Chris Noth with is wife Tara Wilson at the Sex and the City 2 premiere in his John Lobb STAVELEY shoes.

Lately, I feel like I am walking in the shoes of Mr. Big, actor Chris Noth, in the Sex and the City 2 movie.  Have any of you seen the film? I saw it this week at a special Los Angeles screening, and I loved it! See it with one of your best girlfriends soon.  Not to give too much away, but in the film, Mr. Big falls deeply in love with a state of the art LCD flat screen TV.  Apparently Big has a love of old movies like, “It Happened One Night” and  old Cary Grant comedies. Carrie wonders is she trading fashion for furnishings by spending time at home with Big watching the big screen.  It’s an interesting question, and one I have been pondering for a while!  Earlier this month, American Express granted me 300,000 membership rewards points. But the points were to be used for redecorating my home entertainment area, not for splurging on fashion finds.  While, it has been a little tough to avert my eyes from the fashions and the jewelry that the program offers, I was inspired by Big’s love of the flat screen TV to finally break down and order a new TV using 135,000 Membership Rewards points.  Yes, a new love affair is about to begin!  Check out the new Samsumg 32’in LCD TV I ordered. Membership does indeed have it’s privileges. Depending on where you buy this TV, the prices range from $449.00 to $600.00, so buying it using Membership Rewards points is a good deal.

Pictured:  Mi Amour:  This is my new Samsung TV ordered with Membership Rewards is “Big-Worthy.

Although I won’t be installing this new TV in the bedroom as Mr.Big did, I think it will lead to more old time movie watching, DVD and entertainment events at home.   Entertaining at home sounds like a good way to save money and entertain on the chic n’ the cheap.  The TV will probably christened over a few Cosmos as I plan to invite some of my best girlfriends over to watch “Sex and the City” 1 once it arrives. This is worth celebrating, as I say good bye to my old TV with state of the art, built in VHS player. I have had Membership Rewards since 1994, but this is the first time I have used them for electronics.  I had no idea they offered such a great catalog of TVs, stereos and other home entertainment items.

If you’re starting to think about Father’s Day gift giving, and you are an American Express Membership Rewards Member, you might want to check out all the deals that they are offering on Electronics and Gadgets for Father’s Day (June 20th) gift giving.  If you are already a member, check out the monthly specials on the Membership Rewards points.  Yes, American Express actually has sale items on Membership Rewards, where the amount of points needed to buy something are reduced. Check out the promotion running now until June 20th to get 5 X the amount of membership rewards points when you shop online at Bonusmall.com. Below is a sampling of some of the merchants you can shop at to get the points. More details are available on the Membership Rewards site.

As for Mr. Big’s  John Lobb STAVELEY shoes, well you could buy those too with Membership Rewards points by cashing in points for a gift card at Bergdorf Goodman where the shoes, and other Sex and the City  featured fashion items are sold.  Just fyi, 10,000 points can be cashed in for a $100.00 Bergdorf card.  It’s good to know, right?  I am already saving my points for my next shopping trip to New York (probably in New York when I attend Blogher.)

Meanwhile, it’s all about the TV and my new home entertainment center.  I may even plan a Sex and the City marathon party…..the ideas are endless! Woman can not live by fashion alone (although it sure helps! 🙂

Share

Since 2008, Mary Hall has been the author of The Recessionista Blog, which is read by thousands of regular readers in over 160 countries. An internationally recognized expert on the art of the living the good life for less, she has been a commentator on local, national, and international radio and TV shows. Her advice has been featured in over 2,000 media outlets, including The New York Times, Reuters, Life & Style magazine, ABC News, NBC News and now The Huffington Post, among many others.

3 Comments