Deal alert: $15 off $60 purchase at Express

That's a 25 percent discount, and coupled with the big sale they have going at the moment, that can add up to quite a deal for you. If you don't shop regularly at Express, the most important thing I need to bring to your attention is their excellent and always flattering Editor Pant. I affectionately refer to these as the Amazing *bleep* Pants--we'll omit inappropriate language, but let's just say they make your a--uh, fanny--look amazing.

They've expanded the line over the years to include cropped pants and a variety of leg styles, from wide to flared to skinny, so there's an Editor Pant out there for everybody. My favorite is the flared leg, which looks great as a work pant. They use top-quality fabrics, and they're as well made as any tailored pants you'll find. And with their current offer of buy one pair, get the second for 50 percent off, they're also one of the best deals you'll find on pants.

I've mentioned this before, but be sure to join their mailing list if you aren't already on it. In addition to receiving regular email alerts on deals and sales, you'll get discount cards in the mail from time to time that you can use in store or online. You'll get a 15% discount offer just for signing up. Between their sales and the discount deals, Express is always a great place to shop for those of us with a limited clothes budget. The coupon code for the current deal is 2809, or look for the link on their home page to print a coupon for shopping in store.

Quality cosmetics, $1 each. Seriously? Seriously.

Go, now, do not pause, do not slow down, just go (and you can thank me later). e.l.f. cosmetics (that's eyes, lips, face) is my new favorite shop. I'd seen mentions of them for awhile in magazines here and there, but for some unknown reason--temporary insanity, perhaps?--I'd never surfed over to the website. Silly me. Silly, over-paying, missing-out-on-the-fun me.

I went on a completely unrestrained shopping spree, and ran the full gamut from makeup to makeup brushes, to nail polish and tools, to body products. We're talking "I'll take one of EVERYTHING!" kind of shopping spree. I spent $36, including shipping. Is it fun? Yes, it's fun. But I'm also really impressed with the quality. There are two items I wouldn't buy again--the nail file set and the nail block, whose quality was just so-so--but everything else is in heavy rotation in my makeup lineup right now, and I'm uniformly pleased.

They have higher-end lines aside from the $1 items, specifically their mineral makeup line and their studio line (think: like Smashbox or MAC), whose items fall into the ridiculously reasonable $3-$5 range. I ordered the mineral blush and a couple of mineral eye shadows, and all compare quite nicely with the significantly more expensive boutique and department store brands I've tried. I'll be back for more products from this line.

They have all the cosmetics and tools your heart could ever desire, as well as lines of nail products and bath and body products. Their polish in blush (see pic) may well be my go-to color for summer; it's a slightly pinkish gold pearl, a gorgeous color--and is not chipping off or wearing away after a week of wear.

The other product I'm over the moon about is their Shimmering Facial Whip luminizer. Yep, it's just $1, and it works as well for me as my old standby, Benefit's $24 High Beam luminizer. I think the math speaks for itself, no?

Their shower gel (the only bath product of theirs I ordered) is a generous 14.2 oz., and scented nicely. I tried the peony petal and vanilla coconut scents--yum. It's a bargain at $4. They also offer nicely packaged gift sets of their bath products at equally bargain prices, so it's a nice option for an inexpensive gift.

They offer great discounts on their home page--the current offer is 50 percent off their mineral line with a minimum e.l.f. purchase of $25 (coupon code is EGMINA), and you're offered free magazine subscriptions--good magazines, too, such as Lucky and Teen Vogue--with every order (minimum $15 order). If you sign up for their email and newsletter mailing list, you'll also find offers in your inbox at least once a week. You can earn credits toward future cash-off discounts by referring friends, so there's another benefit for you. e.l.f. pushes every one of my bargain-hunter buttons (and in the best possible way), so it gets my highest recommendation.

If you haven't looked lately, mosey over to Chadwicks.com

It seems as if I talk to more and more people who've lost their jobs (three more this past weekend at a family gathering), so I know a lot of you are gearing up to put yourselves back on the market to find new jobs, and maybe even entirely new careers.

Pulling together a wardrobe for a job hunt is stressful enough, but when you're doing so on an extremely limited budget, it can be downright daunting.

The first thing to do, always, is to shop your own closet. Find those key pieces, hopefully, and then take a hard look at what you absolutely must have. Maybe the white shirt or blouse you wear with your suit is yellowed or stained or snagged; some things may not fit so well anymore, or maybe your interview suit blazer is noticeably out of style or out of season. Figure out what you have that you can use, and then figure out what your budget is for the missing pieces. Chadwicks--yes, frumpy, not-exactly-stylish Chadwicks--might be your best resource (and your biggest surprise).

I hadn't perused their catalog in awhile, and was pleasantly surprised recently to see up-to-date career separates (and at their usual low prices), especially their blazers and jackets. They're another retailer for whom you can always find coupon codes online for discounts or free shipping, so the deals are even better when you factor that in. Sign up for their email list, and you'll get regular discount offers in your inbox. They even have a decent selection of pumps and loafers to pair with suits. You might find better prices on those at Target, or maybe even Payless, so shop strategically before you tap into those precious funds.

These are tough times, and it's easy to be overwhelmed by all you have to do when you find yourself unexpectedly on the interview trail again, so take a deep breath and plunge into that closet, and shop strategically for the pieces you need to replace or update. There are very workable options out there for even the most modest budget.

Bliss Spa's product of the month--a worthy indulgence

This is an offer worth passing along: although I wouldn't normally consider Bliss's spa products to be an everyday option for those of us who are budget-minded, some products are simply too awesome not to enjoy every once in awhile, and when that product meets with my "never buy something without getting something in return" philosophy, well, I'll indulge. Last Sunday I told you about Trader Joe's affordable body scrubs, so here's one that's more of a luxury.

First, about the product: this is one of my favorite body products ever. It's a body scrub that will make your skin feel amazing, and leave you feeling invigorated. Here's Bliss's description for the particulars:

Why we love it
•stimulates the senses with rosemary and eucalyptus
•hydrates the skin with algae extract and glycerin
•self heating formula gently exfoliates the skin with sea salts

Our legendary all-over sea salt body scrub is oil-free, super-softening, self-heating and spiked with eucalyptus and rosemary oils. It's the ultimate do-it-yourself spa-strength skin smoother.

A jar will last you a few months with weekly or bi-weekly use, and because it's oil-free, it's wonderfully non-messy to use (you won't have a greasy, gritty jar of product sitting in your shower).

Now, about the deal: through April 10 (this coming Friday), you'll get free shipping and a free 2.5 ounce Bliss Naked Body Butter with your purchase. The offer code to use at checkout is 039908. That's a good enough deal that I won't cringe too much at the indulgence. Bliss is a great company whose house-brand products are consistently high quality, and if you're ever in one of the cities where their spas are located, save up and treat yourself to one of their many spa treatments (or two). If you sign up for their email and mailing list, you'll get periodic catalogs, always with a tempting offer, as well as an email reminder of my favorite thing about shopping with Bliss: if you shop with them during your birthday month, you'll get 10 percent off your purchase.

Great product for do-it-yourself brow waxing

Since most of us seem to be cutting back on non-essentials lately, salon services are probably some of the first things to go. You may not have $25 once a month to get your brows waxed, but that doesn't mean you have to leave them ungroomed, nor does it mean you have to become re-acquainted with a tweezer (ow!).

One of my favorite products--the Nads for facial hair--recently got a makeover, and the applicator is now about as idiot-proof as you'll find. Instead of a gloppy, sticker applicator, the Nads facial wand now has a dial-up base (much like you'd have for a lipstick) that dispenses the gel a drop at a time. Brilliant!

If you haven't used this before, the facial wand is a great place to start, and the pen-like tip of the applicator makes it easy to apply with precision to the brow (or upper lip) area. The kit sells for just under $10 at drugstores, and also includes 10 fabric removal strips, and 4 soothing wipes to clean the skin post-waxing. The fabric strips can be rinsed in hot water after use, dried and used again. MUCH better than kits that use wax. The wand should last you for many months, and save you beaucoup bucks in salon charges. Go forth and groom those brows, ladies!

The wonderful world of Bijoux Terner

Stuck at the airport? That might not be as awful as you're thinking. Mixed in with all the over-priced souvenir stands and food courts, you may just find one of the best bargain shopping spots out there--Bijoux Terner (or, as my sister and I call it, the $10 store).

They carry nothing but accessories, handbags and jewelry, and if you've never wandered into one of their boutiques before, you'll be amazed at the variety. Watches, costume jewelry (both funky and formal), pashminas, scarves, purses large and small, casual and dressy, wallets, and even some men's items--ties, men's watches, wallets, etc. Once in awhile they'll have a corner devoted to items for the home--coffee sets, sushi sets, throws. And everything is a flat price of $10.

The quality for price is surprisingly good, too. I have a couple of Bijoux Terner purses I've been using for 4-5 years now, and they're still holding up nicely. Same for a pashmina or three. It's one of those rare places where you can go nuts loading up on goodies, and still not do too much damage to your bank account.

According to their corporate history, this is how the company evolved:

Established in the early 1970s, Bijoux Terner dedicated itself to creating elegant and luxurious accessories for the fashionable woman. Inspired by the high-end fashion trends around the world, Bijoux Terner became a trendsetter associated with sophistication, stylishness, and quality.

Their company listing says they now have more than 500 boutiques in 60 countries around the world, and if you've wandered through any sizable airport terminals lately, you've probably seen one of their stores. They've also set up shop in resorts, on cruise ships and at casinos--my mom often shops the boutique in the Beau Rivage casino in Biloxi, Mississippi (and she sometimes sends me Bijoux Terner care packages--go, mom!).

It's a great place to shop for yourself, or to dash through between flights and pick up a gift to tuck way for holidays or birthdays. The next time you find yourself stuck on a long layover, take a stroll around the terminal--if you're lucky, you'll find a Bijoux Terner boutique to while away the hours.

My fashion find of the week: an extremely versatile blouse.

This blouse is so great, it could almost count as one of your basic wardrobe essentials. It's from Newport News, and a bargain at $29. Coupon codes can be found here, among other places, to get you an even better deal on it. I saved over $17 (I ordered this blouse, and a 3-pack of jewel-tone split-neck tees on sale for $18). It took multiple attempts using coupon codes I searched for online, but I ended up getting free shipping and 15 percent off--you can combine coupons at Newport News--for a total of $41 and change. Always, always look for coupon codes when you shop online!

It'll pair beautifully with skirts and pants, and even with jeans. Tuck it in, leave it untucked, or belt it. Go bare and show off your shoulders and arms, or wear a cardigan or blazer over it. There are dozens of combinations you can use with this blouse, and the simple black and white print is easy to match. They offer a coordinating belt for $24, but you can probably pick up a wide black (or white) belt at Target or Forever 21 for less than that, assuming you don't already own one.

I just ordered mine, and thought I'd give everyone else a heads-up. It's a great buy.