Each store will award a minimum of 250 Belk Gift Cards, including one card valued at $1,000 at each location

We are pleased to announce the addition of an exciting After-Thanksgiving sales promotion to attract customers to shop with us on Black Friday, November 25, when we open our doors at 3 a.m.  We’re giving away one million dollars worth of free Belk Gift Cards, and every store will have a $1,000 Gift Card winner.

Each store will give away a minimum of 250 Belk Gift Cards to the first customers arriving when we open at 3 a.m. The cards awarded in each location will range in value from $5 to $1,000 and can be redeemed for purchases in any Belk store or on Belk.com.

Customers receiving the Gift Cards must be age 18 or older, and the promotion excludes Belk associates.

Our Gift Card give-away on Nov. 25^th is expected to create lots of excitement and buzz about Belk in our markets, and draw lots of customers to shop with us. All stores will be open from 3 a.m. to 10 p.m. for the convenience of our customers, and we have one of the best sales ever with more than 285 EarlyBird Specials and hundreds of other great values and gift choices throughout the store.

The EarlyBird specials will be available in stores while supplies last from 3 a.m. - 1 p.m. on Friday, November 25.  Customers can also purchase the EarlyBird specials and other sale items online at Belk.com starting at 12:01 a.m. on Thanksgiving Day. Belk Rewards cardholders will receive $10 in Belk Rewards Dollars for every $100 in Belk.com purchases on Thanksgiving Day.

Black Friday is one of the most important sales-generating days of the year for Belk, and we want to do all we can to deliver a great shopping experience for every customer during our After Thanksgiving Sale and throughout the holiday shopping season. We’re giving customers more reasons than ever to shop at Belk and we look forward to serving them and providing the fashion, value and friendly service that they deserve.

This is an exciting, yet demanding time for all of us as we enter our busiest and most critical selling period of the year.  We sincerely appreciate all that you’re doing to take care of customers, maximize our business and make Belk the best we can be.

Want to list your sale?  Submit it here!!

Big Frog Custom T-Shirts (Expires Feb, 28) - 615-624-6670

Birds Nest Salon (Expires Mar, 12) - 615-525-5364

Carter's in The Avenue (Expires Jan, 26) - 615-895-0476

Childrens Shoe Company (Expires Jan, 31) - 615-890-4706

All winter clothing 50% Off. This includes all holiday clothing.

Copeland Photography (Expires Jan, 28) - 615-848-1700

DC Cleaning Services (Expires Jan, 31) - 615-542-2678

30% off first cleaning with mention of this ad.

E. Allen Boutique (Expires Jan, 31) - 615-896-2110

Eagle Communications (Expires Jan, 30) - 615-278-9896

Elaborate Images (Expires Jan, 31) - 615-427-9206

25% off of all apparel for screen printing and embroidery for the month of January. Free screens with minimum order of 36 items for screen printing. Free digitizing with minimum order of 6 items for embroidery.

Grease Monkey's (Expires Feb 28) - 615-796-6451

Mention HobNob and receive $5 off your next oil change from Grease Monkeys. Give us a call at 615-796-6451 to schedule your appointment, and we'll come to you to change your oil.

Goody’s (Expires Jan, 30) - 615-896-9520

Hamlett Signs (Expires Jan 31) - 615-752-5905

Icing by Claire's in The Avenue (Expires Jan, 31) - 615-895-0945

All cosmetics and hair accessories are buy one, get one half off.

LearningRx (Expires Jan, 31) - 615-867-8717

SHINE Social Etiquette and Image Development (Expires Feb, 28) - 615-516-2446

Valentine's Special 15% off February Etiquette Classes for Children Grades K-5th Classes held on Thursday afternoons 4:00 - 5:30 p.m. February 10, 17 and 24 Graduation Dinner held at Stones River Country Club

Statum Photography (Expires Feb 28) - 615-691-0269

From now until the end of February I am offering "The Medium" photo session for the price of "The Mini" ... only $35.00! With that clients also get 1/2 off the cost of one 8x10 and 1/2 off two 5x7 portraits. Turnaround time is generally less than a week and you get free web-ready (lightly watermarked) images to post for personal use as well.

Tennesseeans get a break from state and local sales taxes Aug. 6-8

Murfreesboro, TN – The 2010 Sales Tax Holiday begins this Friday, and provides three full days of tax breaks on clothing, school and art supplies, and computer purchases. Visit www.tntaxholiday.com or our new dedicated facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/TNTaxHoliday for detailed information on the holiday.

The holiday begins Friday, August 6 at 12:01 a.m. and ends Sunday, August 8 at 11:59 p.m. During the designated three-day weekend, consumers will not pay state or local sales tax on select clothing with a price of $100 or less per item, school and art supplies with a price of $100 or less per item, and computers with a price of $1,500 or less.

“Our Sales Tax Holiday not only helps families save on their back-to-school shopping but is a benefit for all Tennesseans, who are encouraged to take advantage of the timely savings," said Revenue Commissioner Reagan Farr.

An audio news release recorded by Commissioner Farr about the holiday is available at the Sales Tax Holiday Web site, www.tntaxholiday.com.

Please visit www.tntaxholiday.com to learn more about the items exempt from sales tax. The Tennessee Department of Revenue also assists consumers via e-mail, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , and through its toll-free statewide telephone hot line, (800) 342-1003. Staff is available to answer questions Monday through Friday 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Central Time. (Out-of-state and Nashville-area callers, please dial (615) 253-0600.)

Examples of exempt items include:

· Clothing: Shirts, dresses, pants, coats, gloves and mittens, hats and caps, hosiery, neckties, belts, sneakers, shoes, uniforms whether athletic or non-athletic and scarves

· School Supplies: Binders, book bags, calculators, tape, chalk, crayons, erasers, folders, glue, pens, pencils, lunch boxes, notebooks, paper, rulers and scissors

· Art Supplies: Clay and glazes; acrylic, tempera and oil paints; paintbrushes for artwork; sketch and drawing pads; and watercolors

· Computers: Central processing unit (CPU), along with various other components including monitor, keyboard, mouse, cables to connect components and preloaded software (Note: While the CPU may be purchased separately, other items must be part of a bundled computer package in order to be eligible.) iPad’s are eligible for tax exemption, video games and consoles are not.

The Department of Revenue is responsible for the administration of state tax laws and motor vehicle title and registration laws established by the legislature and the collection of taxes and fees associated with those laws. The Department of Revenue collects approximately 91 percent of total state tax revenue. During the 2009-2010 fiscal year, the department collected $10.1 billion in state taxes and fees. In addition to collecting state taxes, $1.9 billion of combined local sales tax, local mineral severance tax, and local business related taxes and fees was collected by the department for local governments during the 2009-2010 fiscal year. Besides collecting taxes, the department enforces the revenue laws fairly and impartially in an effort to encourage voluntary taxpayer compliance. The department also apportions revenue collections for distribution to the various state funds and local units of government. To learn more about the department, log on to www.TN.gov/revenue.

(ARA) - When you're ready to sell your home in the current market, you need to take every step you can to ensure a timely sale at the price you want. A surplus of homes for sale means that yours needs to stand out in style, amenities and quality to make an impression on potential buyers. The more steps you take to make your house sale-ready, the better results you'll get.

Currently, home sales are at a historic low -- so what do you need to do to buck that trend?  Updated decor and proper staging certainly help present your home well, but don't think that cosmetic fixes are all you need. Buyers want to know the home they're considering is safe and sound, and the best way to establish that is to hire a home inspector.

Twenty years ago, it seemed extravagant to hire a home inspector, but today it's standard practice. Buyers will often bring their own inspectors to the table, so you need to start by hiring one yourself. Hiring a professional will give you a realistic perspective on what's going on in the bones of your home.

"In a down market, a pre-sale inspection can make a home stand out," says David Tamny, president of the American Society of Home Inspectors. "More and more, sellers are obtaining pre-sale inspections to help uncover and address potential issues before the first prospective buyer walks through the door. This simple step allows for better planning and lowers repair costs, adds value to the home, and it could increase the likelihood of an offer."

Even if someone in your family is handy, a professional home inspector will be able to point out issues that might go unnoticed by someone who doesn't know the ins and outs of inspecting. Today's buyers are quick to point out flaws uncovered by the home inspectors they bring with them, particularly if the flaws could compromise health or safety.

Buyers can use problems as bargaining chips, causing previously agreed upon prices to be lowered or even the cancellation of a deal. Inspections help uncover imperfections that often can be fixed easily and inexpensively, so it's worth it to get your home inspected before you list it.

In addition, a good inspection can raise the likelihood of an offer being placed on your home. Buyers are looking for security. If you can show them your home has been inspected, they'll feel more comfortable with it. That confidence often equates to more dollars in your pocket when you agree to the sale.

The areas covered in home inspections are: the major systems and components such as the foundation, exterior siding, flashing and trim, the roof, plumbing, electrical and heating and cooling units. In addition, some home inspectors offer additional services including radon testing, energy assessments and pool and spa inspections.

The current housing market requires a proactive approach to selling, and to get the result you want, you have to think about every aspect of your home. Having a home inspection can add value to the property, speed up the negotiation process, increase the likelihood of an offer and, most importantly, help sell your home.

Courtesy of ARAcontent