Far be it from me to suggest Nordstrom is a regular shopping destination for those of us on a budget… but twice a year, they put on a sale, and they do it up right. Starting today it’s the big women-and-kids Half-Yearly Sale, and that means it’s the right time to check ‘em out and pay Target prices on Nordstrom items.

Twice a year I shop at Nordstrom, and twice a year I come away feeling quite smug. Try it. See if you don’t feel a little smug, too.

It’s not too early to start thinking about the holidays, either….

Whether you’re looking for the goodness of real maple syrup to use at home on your pancakes, or you’re already thinking ahead to teacher gifts, get on over to Amazon for an incredible special on Coombs and Brown Family Farms maple syrup products. Everything’s already on sale, and coupon code BASCOM35 takes it down another 35%, while purchasing via Subscribe & Save (that can be canceled after delivery) will save you another 15% and give you free shipping.

The gift pack pictured here will be just $7 shipped; a 6-pack of all-natural buttermilk pancake mix will run you around $8; and there’s a plethora of ways to pick up 32 ounces of pure maple goodness for around $13.

Whatever you choose, it’s way cheaper than the grocery store, and delivered to your house for free. Not to mention delicious. This is totally my kind of deal!

You’ve been looking at finding that perfect chair for the corner or a TV stand that isn’t collapsing in the middle (don’t laugh, I’ve been there). But most of us are hardly in a position to waltz into a fancy furniture store and pay what this stuff tends to cost, right now; on the other hand, who wants to buy cheap, crummy stuff?

The answer, of course, is The Home Decorators Outlet, where quality home furnishing overstocks go to be sold at rock-bottom prices. And through the end of October, you’ll get an extra $25 off your $150+ order, automatically.

It’s all the same stuff from the fancypants stores, at Recession-friendly prices. I love that you can browse by “Price Cuts,” too—I always start with the 80% off section. Of course.

To avoid High Fructose Corn Syrup, you could just stop giving your kids candy altogether… or you could stick to Yummy Earth, delicious hard candy made of all-natural, allergen-free ingredients. Think of it as the brand for moms who still want to be a hero now and then.

Today Yummy Earth lollipops are the Gold Box Deal at Amazon, and on top of that, you’ll get an additional 35% off savings in your cart as well as free shipping.

That means you can get the 5 pound bag for just $9.63 shipped, or the 150-count container for just $5.78 shipped.

You’ve been meaning to pick up some candy for Halloween, anyway, so why not enjoy junk food prices on health food store goodness?

Look, we all know the goal is to work less, but the reality is that sometimes we need to bust out the computer at home or on the go. You may as well be comfortable, you know?

Today’s featured Target Daily Deal is this ingenious Laptop Buddy portable laptop table. It’s got a cup holder and a separate side platform for your mouse, even. And today only, it’s marked down to just $28.99—plus the Daily Deals always ship for free.

What are you waiting for? If you have to work on the go, at least you should have a nice little ergonomic setup to make it a little more tolerable.

What if you could have the quality of your digital camera, but the picture-in-your-hand convenience of the old Polaroid instant camera? You can! And at a great price, too—today’s Amazon Gold Box Deal is the Pogo mobile printer from Polaroid for just $30 shipped (it’s normally $50).

It works with your digital camera or cell phone, and prints out borderless 2″ x 3″ photos in under a minute. No, it’s not going to replace conventional photo printing, but it will give you a bit of instant gratification (or a favorite new toy for a teen, perhaps…?) on the cheap. Love.

Oh, I know it’s a little early to be thinking about the holidays, but bear with me here: Wouldn’t the grandparents love an 11″ x 14″ photo collage of the kids this year? Or wouldn’t you like to have one? Now’s a great time to get it one on the cheap!

Simply visit ArtsCow.com to create your very own custom photo collage. If you use coupon code 11X14PRINTS you can order up to 4 11″ x 14″ prints for just $2.99 each, and receive free shipping on your order.

With the money you save, you can buy a really nice frame.

In honor of it being 9/9/09, Restaurant.com is offering 90% off dining certificates with coupon code NINETY. Just enter your zip code to find participating restaurants in your area, and then enjoy fine dining utilizing a $25 gift certificate you bought for just $1. (They take Paypal, too, and you know you have some of that lying around.)

Or, hey, maybe you’d rather spend $24 you could’ve saved…? That’s what I thought.

Certificates are good for a year, so stock up now and enjoy the savings all year long!

Looking for a cheap yet workable solution for extra clothing storage? Check out today’s Deal of the Day at Graveyard Mall—it’s a pop-up closet sturdy enough to hang clothes in, but lightweight and foldable so that it doesn’t take up much room when you decide you don’t need it right that moment. At under $10 (plus shipping), it could be the stopgap solution you’ve been seeking for the basement, attic, or spare bedroom.

Did you know that you can buy magazine subscriptions through Amazon? It’s true, and their prices tend to be much lower than other deals out there. Why, right now there are over 500 choices in their Magazines $10 or Less category. Some of them are under $10 for two years! You can renew existing subscriptions this way, or begin new ones.

So whether you decide to pick up your old favorites or try something new (or even score cool mom points by ordering Seventeen for your teen), you’ll be saving big bucks.