It seems the whole world is on sale right now and you can’t go wrong. That is if you follow the Frugal Diva rules.

1. The most expensive item in your closet is the one you never wear – even if it’s reduced by 50% with another 30% off and you have an extra 10% off coupon.  Anything not in your size, in a color you never wear, or for a sport you never play is a reminder that “on sale” doesn’t always mean saving money.

2. Do you really need it? If it’s in black, you probably do. However if you already have ten black T shirts, more black pants than you can count, and black jackets in velvet, linen, cotton, and wool. Maybe you don’t.

3. Kitchen accessories are tempting. The Food Network and Top Chef have given us souffle dreams.  Think about the reality of your meals.  Will you be pureeing asparagus for a sauce? Making a ten layer torte?  Preparing a turduckan? Then you don’t want to invest in an inversion blender, more baking accessories, and an extra large roasting pan.

4. At the grocery store, there are always discounts. When marketing think healthy. Ten boxes of oatmeal at half price – good buy. Ten boxes of Fruit Loops at half price – no way.  Low fat ground turkey that can be frozen for turkey burgers, meat loaf and chili – yes! Doughnuts reduced to ten for a dollar – no!

5. Looking for ways to organize your home.  You might not need to buy mass produced storage items. It’s more fun to use your creativity. Re-purpose items already there. Use holiday tins to hold hair accessories,  save small jars for buying bulk spices, or old mugs for pencils on your desk.

6. About to buy some books online at a discount. There is a place that has free books, DVDs, books on CD, music CDs, and magazines. It’s called the public library.

7. White sales are great at this time of year.  This is an easy way to redecorate without spending too much. New duvet covers, sheets, and towels will make a bedroom and bathroom feel new for a minimum expense.

8. The most important rule – think before you spend.

Maybe some people are less phobic about buying furniture then the Frugal Diva, maybe they know what they want right away.  While usually quick and decisive, furniture makes me quake in my discounted shoes. And why is that?  Well, this is a big purchase where you usually can’t return the item without a truck and at least one sturdy helper, that is if you can return it at all. Furnishings are more permanent then a Hollywood marriage, more indicative of your taste then the movies ordered from Netflix, and almost as costly as your car. This your statement to every guest – look at all my eco friendly sustainable wood, I love anything from the fifties,or antiques malls are my favorite vacation.

If I haven’t scared you to the point where wooded crates and a futon seem like a decorating plan, let me tell you about a fun place to learn what style suits you. H.D.Buttercup in Culver City houses over 20 manufacturers of varying genres and prices. You can stroll the vast space and learn a lot just by asking the very friendly and non pushy salespeople.  Now where is the bargain?  There are two ways to save here.

The first is one of their twice yearly sales that are after Christmas and around the 4th of July.  The whole store goes on sale (or almost all of it), including vintage and one-of-a-kind pieces.

Through January 16th enjoy 20%-70% off sofas, tables, lighting, chairs, artwork, rugs, linens, and more at the LA and SF stores.

The second is the Backroom at H.D. Buttercup  across the street. This lower priced space gets both older merchandise and brand new merchandise sold at a lower price point.  They also have a mattress and bath store called Dream where a number of smaller items  like candles, home fragrances, rugs, etc. are all reasonably priced with a high-end look.

H.D. Buttercup is surrounded by other great shops and restaurants however Let’s Be Frank , the gourmet hot dog stand, is your best bet when saving up for furniture.

When another scarf is just not the answer.  As the holidays approach, here are some unique gifting ideas in the daily deals from 8coupons.com.

8coupons collects and organizes deals from every deal source (Groupon, Living Social, Eversave, KGB, BuyWithMe, Gilt, YourBestDeals, DoubleTakeDeals, Dealfind, Dealster, Goldstar, Restaurant.com, Zozi, Weforia, Juice in the City, Signpost, plus over 300 others).

Simply log on to 8coupons or sign up for their email and see ALL the deals near you ….or in the zip code of a loved one. Whether it’s a spa, a restaurant, or an adventure, there are tons of interesting gift ideas available every day.

An oldie but a goodie, Top Button has been around for some time giving you the best sales in LA and NYC.  The membership comes for free, so sign up to receive updates on sales such as the following.

The Mini Social Children’s Warehouse Sale – Up To 80% Off At this sale you will find designer clothing, toys, and accessories for kids (boys & girls) sizes 0-14 years! Featured brands include LA Made, Joah Love, Tea Collection, Egg by Susan Lazar, and Under The Nile at up to 80% off. TopButton subscribers get an additional 5% off with a copy of this e-mail.

 The Fred Segal used to be once a year sale now has a winter date. Right now up to 2/3 off.

And keeping up with the groupons, they have added a restaurant and spa discount section.  These places are pricey so this might be best for a special occasion. There is a $10 fee to get 30% off however that includes alcohol.