Archive for October, 2009

Southwest Airlines is again running its 4th Quarter Sale, with one-way tickets ranging from $25 for shorter trips to $100 for flights of more than 1,000 miles.

Flights less than 375 miles one-way are $25; Flights between 375 and 549 miles are $50 each way; Flights between 550 and 999 miles are $75 each way; and those 1,000 miles or more are $100.

Additionally, Southwest does not charge for luggage. Applicable travel dates are Dec. 2 through Dec. 16 this year, and Jan. 5 through Feb. 10. 2010.

You have only 24 hours left to buy.

Southwest does not fly out of Atlanta. The closest airport to us using Southwest is Birmingham. Depending on where your travel plans take you, or where you live in the metro area, the two-hour drive across the state line may very well be worth it.

Continue reading Southwest Airlines flights: $25-$50-$75-$100 »

This is a D.I.Y. project I never saw coming. Now that I’ve read that a professional could charge you as much as $100 to do it, I’m pleased as pudding and shocked that anyone would spend this much money to get this job done.

Garbage disposals.

Some people swear buy them; others argue they are germ traps and wastes of money. Either way, I have one, and was disappointed when I flipped the on switch and heard absolutely nothing.

I am going to point my finger at my 9-year-old cousin, who used my kitchen sink to complete a self-assigned science project that included a chunky, white substance. Is that cement?!

I dealt with using one side of the sink for months before my frustration boiled over. At last, I sought help and headed to my local Lowe’s store. Here’s what you need to do:

• First, simply try the reset button. The disposal could have shut off because it became overheated or just plain cranky. There’s a little button on the underside of the disposal. Push it, then flip the on …

Continue reading DIY: Fix your garbage disposal for just a few dollars »

Love Shopping?

If you love shopping, you’re probably getting pretty excited right about now. The holidays are here, and sales will soon follow. Luckily, Accessatlanta.com has taken a big step in helping you sort through the shopping madness and find fashion steals throughout the city. We’ve partnered with Jessicashops.com, with Jessica Dauler bringing you all the essential info you’ll need. Check out the blog on accessatlanta.com. You won’t be disappointed.

Meet and Greet with Hellogoodbye

Live Nation’s No Fee Wednesdays continues Oct. 28, and this time, it’s combined with a meet and greet at The Tabernacle with the group, Hellogoodbye, from 5 p.m.-6 p.m. Everyone who purchases a ticket will be entered to win an Ultimate Access Pass, good for admission to all shows at the venue in 2010. To see a list of all the ‘no fee’ shows, visit LiveNation.com.

Free cake!

When I lived in Florida, one of my favorite quick-stop restaurants was El Pollo Loco. Only recently have I discovered …

Continue reading Shopping deals | Meet Hellogoodbye | Free cake at El Pollo Loco | 50% off spa services »

Free Domino’s Pizza

Thanks for the folks over at CouponGeek.com for bringing this to our attention. I’m a big fan of board games, and Target has select games on sale for $9. But that’s not even the best part. Inside specially marked games, there’s a coupon for a free medium Domino’s pizza. That makes for a good family fun night. A few of the games include Twister, Sorry!, Connect 4 and Battleship. Click here to see the Target ad.

Phantom of the Opera

The original silent film classic, Phantom of the Opera, is always a favorite, and will be an even bigger hit with live accompaniment by the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra. The performance is 30 percent off — $20 for floor seats and $13 for balcony — on Oct. 31 at 8 p.m. at Atlanta Symphony Hall. Considered one of the greatest silent films ever, the 1925 epic will feature Lon Chaney of “Man Of A Thousand Faces.” To secure these prices, contact Russell Wheeler at 404-733-4807 or email russell.wheeler@woodruffcenter.org. The offer is …

Continue reading Free Domino’s pizza | Discount at Atlanta Symphony | Free Applebee’s »

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported Monday that average price of gallon of gas rose 18 cents in the past week, the highest level in more than four months, according to atlantagasprices.com.

So, no, it’s not in your head. The pain you’re feeling at the pump is real. While walking is the cheapest alternative, it’s not a very realistic one for most people here in metro Atlanta. However, there are some steps you can take to improve your gas mileage and pay less for gas.

Gas prices are soaring, but you can keep your costs down. Photo credit: Steven Senne/AP

1. Go online: This is your best bet for finding inexpensive gas. Sites like atlantagasprices.com, GasPriceWatch.com,  and for an entire Georgia search, gasbuddy.com get tips from drivers on the cheapest places to buy gas. Atlantagasprices.com updates its Web site regularly, so you’re likely to get accurate price points. There are also online fuel finder applications that you might find helpful.

2. Don’t pay for what you …

Continue reading 10 tips to save on gas: Pay less at the pump »

Free theatre tickets at The Alliance

Free tickets are just a phone call away, if you can dial fast enough. The Alliance Theatre is giving away 100 pairs of tickets to the opening of A Life In The Theatre, performed Nov. 4 at 8 p.m. You have to call 404-733-4615 and request the tickets by noon, Nov. 2.

Free Braves Museum admission

Sure, we’d rather be playing baseball in October. But since we’re not, the Atlanta Braves have given us a nice treat anyway. The Braves Museum and Hall of Fame is free on Nov. 14, from 10 a.m.-2 p.m., including a complimentary tour of Turner Field. Regular admission is $12 for adults, and $7 for children.

Costumed kids free at the High, Georgia Aquarium; Halloween special at Braves Museum

I’ve gone to see Leonardo da Vinci: Hand of the Genius at the High Museum, and while I really enjoyed it, I’m not sure how much young children would. If you want them to see the exhibit, you might choose to do it on Halloween, Oct. 31, when kids wearing costumes are …

Continue reading Free Alliance Theatre tickets | Free meal for Veterans | BOGO Denny’s | Free KFC | Free Braves Museum | Free Aquarium, High »

Saving money is paramount these days. So is having fun. The two can indeed go together, as I discovered on my vacation last week.

I’m back, and my pocket is too badly burned. I thought I’d share a few of my tips on how to save on vacation.

1. Pick a place close to home: I’d originally planned to go to Sante Fe, N.M. Flights were not terribly unreasonable, but when my traveling partner — my mother — insisted on cutting costs on our trip, we decided to stay closer to home. We took a two-hour road trip to Chattanooga, TN and did it before gas prices jumped this week.

2. Have flexibility when it comes to accommodations: I’d been to Chattanooga before, but had previously chosen hotels in the downtown area. This time, I picked a bed and breakfast only five minutes outside of downtown. It was $60 less per night than a popular, moderately-priced hotel downtown, but even nicer. The scenery was beautiful in the eight-bedroom home, with our room going for $99. Plus, we had a full …

Continue reading Save on vacations: How to vacation on a budget »

The intravenous dye cost the hospital $14. The patient’s bill for it? Try $600.

“That’s more than a 4,000 percent markup. I think about that bill a lot,” said Holly Lang of Georgia Watch, a nonprofit consumer advocacy group.

Then there are stories of $11 for a box of tissues — also known as a disposable mucus recovery system. Or $15 for thermal therapy. We call it an ice pack. Tylenol for $140. A charge of $30 for a thermometer or $52 for a commode.

According to the Medical Billing Advocates of America, 80 percent of hospital and medical care bills have errors and overcharges on them. The chances that you’ll get stuck with a bill more painful than any needle are extremely high.

“I would say that is the norm,” said Cindy Holtzman, a member of  MBAA and owner of Medical Refund Service. “It’s horrible, or we wouldn’t be out here.”

More than 36 million Americans have medical debt, in many cases leading to bankruptcy. Making matters worse are common and outlandish billing errors …

Continue reading Medical bills can make you ill: Avoid phantom expenses »

Puppetry Arts discounts

When you think of puppet shows, you probably envision giggling children and child’s play. That’s not at all what the Ghastly Dreadfuls II is, as Inside Access blogger Jamie Gumbrecht tells us in her review of this show for adults.

Check out the review, then turn your attention to these discounts, also pointed out in Jamie’s blog:

• Oct. 22 is “Zombie Night.” There’s a “Pick our Brain” game before the show, a “Zombie Box” with discount tickets. Zombie costumes are, of course, encouraged.
• Oct. 31 is the annual “Ghastly Dreadfuls” Halloween Costume Contest.
• Get $2 off any full price ticket by wearing a costume to any performance.
• Wear a costume to any performance and save $2.00 on a full-price ticket. It’s not valid on previously purchased tickets.
• Students get half-off tickets on Thursdays with a valid student ID.

FREE T.G.I.F. entree

I found this coupon on freeshiet.com. You’ll have to check with the T.G.I.F. restaurant in your area to make sure it is …

Continue reading Save on ‘Ghastly Dreadfuls’ | Free TGIF entree | Free Subway | Save on show tickets | 60% off at Roswell Tea House »

The holiday season is right around the corner. Does that mean debt is knocking on our door?

Despite layoffs and economic trouble, many people will continue to rack up debt this holiday season. It makes them feel better, like nothing has really changed. What an awful mistake that would be.

A book landed on my desk this week, ‘Shoptimism: Why The American Consumer Will Keep On Buying No Matter What.’”

I’m intrigued and can’t wait to jump into this book by author Lee Eisenberg.

I wondered: Will you set a holiday shopping budget? Will it be more or less than usual? Will you search for layaway plans? Is there really such a thing as a ‘Shopaholic?’

Continue reading Will you shop in spite of economic woes? »