Archive for April, 2010

Free kids night on Broadway at the Fox Theatre

This is one of the best deals around town right now, as highlighted on the Field Trips With Sue blog. It’s Free Kids Night on Broadway at the Fox Theatre and among many other special treats, includes a buy one get one free ticket offer to see the musical, Mary Poppins at 6:30 p.m. on Sunday, May 2. Use promo code ATLFAM when purchasing through Ticketmaster.com, by calling 800-982-2787 or at the Fox Theatre box office (where you’ll save on the Ticketmaster transaction fees). The kids night festivities put on by Broadway Across America take place before the show, from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. in the Egyptian Ballroom at the Fox. Fun activities like face painting, making arts and crafts and cookie decorating are free during the event. Plus, actors from the musical will sign autographs.

Save $10 on Whole World Improv

Looking for a good laugh over what is expected to be a rain-soaked weekend? Tickets to Whole World Improv are 2-for-1 with this …

Continue reading Free Kids Night on Broadway at the Fox | $10 off Whole World Improv | Belk Charity Sale | Today’s Daily Deals »

Promise yourself you won’t feel embarrassed, lazy or just average after reading this post from one of my favorite blogs, WiseBread.com, about 10 teenagers who’ve wowed us all with their intellect, entrepreneurial spirit and riches. One notable: None of the teens mentioned here are women. I’m not sure if that’s an oversight, or if young girls aren’t pushed in areas of inventiveness.

These guys built hugely successful companies as chronicled here:

1. Fred De Luca

In 1965 Fred De Luca borrowed just $1,000 to start the now-famous Subway sandwich restaurant. Fred was only 17 years old when he decided to be an entrepreneur, and he started the restaurant as a way to earn money for college. Since opening the first shop in Boston, the chain now has 32,401 locations and makes over $9 billion in sales yearly. Fred and his co-founder Peter Buck have also founded Franchise Brands, a resource to help franchisors and entrepreneurs grow their brands.

2. Mark Zuckerberg

Mark Zuckerberg …

Continue reading 10 Teenage Wonderkids »

My mother used to use this phrase all the time: “That’s just robbing Peter to pay Paul.” Now, I wasn’t exactly sure where it came from, but I knew what she meant. If you find yourself always a little short, pulling money from one pot to put in another — and not having enough in either — you know the strain of financial stress.

It can flat out wear you down. Kimberly Palmer, author of the Alpha Consumer blog, has put together a handy list for the “Constantly Broke.” For those trying hard, but still fighting to keep your head above water, ask yourself these questions:

1. Do I know where my money is going? Not some of it; all of it.

2. Am I focusing too much on the month instead of the year?

3. Do I do something every day that wastes money?

4. Do I know my own weaknesses?

5. Am I saving too much?

6. Is my relationship hurting my bank account?

7. Are the big items dragging me down?

8. Am I wasting money by carrying debt?

Here are few excerpts worth noting:

Question No. 2: Am I …

Continue reading Why am I always broke? »

Free Asian Pacific American Heritage Month Celebration

A free event celebrating Asian Pacific American Heritage Month kicks off on Saturday, May 1, at the National Archives Atlanta location. Speakers at “We are America: Asian Pacific Americans in the U.S. South” will discuss topics such as genealogy, history and culture. There will be workshops on preserving family and community history, film screenings of the Japanese American internment experience, an exhibition of Vietnamese American oral histories, a book signing by author John Jung and much more. Admission is free. Formal programs begin at 10 a.m., followed later by workshops and tours in the afternoon. National Archives at Atlanta is located at 5780 Jonesboro Rd., Morrow.

Fiesta Atlanta

Grupo Amigo performed at Fiesta Atlanta last year. Photo: Bob Andres, AJC

Cinco de Mayo is on a Wednesday this year; not exactly a day for all-day and long-night celebrations. Instead, Fiesta Atlanta will take place on Sunday from 10 …

Continue reading Free and cheap weekend deals: Free Asian Pacific American Heritage Month event | Cinco de Mayo festivities | BOGO Braves on Sunday »

Chemically-treated produce shipped cross-country happens to be affordable. For families on a budget, buying organically grown local fruit and vegetables is good in theory but in reality, these goods aren’t always priced low enough to make the decision easy.

“If it’s certified organic, it might be a little bit more because of supply and demand and because of the amount of work that goes into it and the quality of the product,” said Michael Wall of Georgia Organics.

It’s not a lost cause, though. Preferring to prepare more wholesome ingredients doesn’t mean you have to be rich. There are ways to buy and eat reasonably-priced organic goods.

– Grow your own: This is the best time of year to plant summer vegetables like squash, as well as potatoes, tomatoes, lettuces and more. Seed sales have skyrocketed as backyard gardeners have put their hands in soil.

– Wholesome Wave Foundation: Started to benefit low income households, Wholesome Wave doubles the cash value of …

Continue reading 5 ways to make eating organic foods affordable »

Just as lending has tightened on small businesses, everyday consumers are finding it difficult to get loans as well. The basics — having good credit, proving you have the income to repay the loan and having money for a down payment — apply to anyone asking a bank for money. Once you’re sure you really need a loan and have a plan for repaying it, here are a few tips to get you started:

1. Before applying, get your credit report from all three credit agencies. Give yourself time to dispute any errors. You can get your credit report free from AnnualCreditReport.com.
2. A credit score of 700 or above will get you a competitive rate, said Bankrate.com’s Greg McBride. It’s a tougher landscape if your score is below 650.
3. Pay down debt. In the world of lending, the best prepared come out winners. Take the time to reduce your debt before knocking on a banker’s door.
4. Cash speaks volumes. If you have the money to place a down payment, you’re less likely to default on a loan. …

Continue reading Improve your chances of getting a loan. Poll: Would you lend money to a relative? »

$15 Georgia Aquarium tickets + Free Birthday tickets

This is the cheapest general admission Georgia Aquarium ticket I’ve seen. Through Travelzoo.com, tickets are $15 (plus $1.75 fee per ticket) through May 27. You’ll have to sign up for a free Travelzoo account if you don’t already have one. Regularly-priced general admission tickets are $27. You have to click here to purchase the tickets, and have until May 27 to use them.

Here’s another great promotion that the Aquarium just launched today. Georgia residents will be admitted free on their birthday. You can only use the freebie on the day of your birthday, and it cannot be combined with any other specials or promotions. Residents will have to present a valid Georgia state driver’s license, military identification, passport or birth certificate.

Special offer at Sea World

Maybe you love marine animals and parks, but have been to the Georgia Aquarium more than once. Here’s a special offer — although out of town — that is worth …

Continue reading Aquarium deals: Free on your birthday | $15 ticket deal through May 27 | $5 kids tickets at Sea World | Tenn. Aquarium combo tickets »

Free Flatbread and 25 cent wine tasting at Maggiano’s

Bargains in Buckhead may be about selling real estate, but they come across some pretty nice deals as well. Take this one, for instance. Use this Maggiano’s coupon for free flatbread with the purchase of a glass or bottle of the restaurant’s new signature wine, Ruffino Salute Amico. The deal is available through June 30. On Wednesday, April 28, you can enjoy a 25 cent tasting of the wine (in 2-ounce portions).

Free Comic Book Day

I have friends who are avid comic book fans and collectors. Saturday is day they’ll look forward to. Why? Well, it’s Free Comic Book Day. If you haven’t visited an independent comic book store in a while, you might well consider doing so on Saturday when complimentary big-screen comic heroes meet the superhero yet to make his or her’s powers known. Comic books from locals and national artists are available at participating stores, including Criminal Records, Galactic Quest, Dragon’s Horde and …

Continue reading Maggiano’s coupon | Free Comic Book Day | $1 Martini Happy Hour | Spring Charity sale »

“The Lightning Thief” author gives free talk

My fourth grade niece stayed up late and woke up early to read “Percy Jackson and The Lightning Thief.” And when the movie came out, she was full of excitement, as were many other children her age. As she fancies herself a writer, she would be delighted to meet the author of the popular Percy Jackson and the Olympians series, Rick Riordan. Hosted by Emory’s Carlos Museum and Decatur’s Little Shop of Stories, he’ll be at the Glenn Auditorium on May 7 to discuss his new series, The Kane Chronicles. The first book in the series, The Red Pyramid, will be available in stores May 4. The event is free and doors open at 6 p.m.

The Atlanta community is invited to the Bookshop or the Little Shop of Stories on the square in Decatur before the close of business on May 4 to enter a raffle to win a tour of the Carlos Museum with Riordan and special reserved seating at the talk.  Names will be drawn on May 5 and winners will be …

Continue reading ‘Lightning Thief’ author free book signing | Free cool treats: Baskin Robbins, TCBY, Carvel | Big salon deal »

Value shopping, coupon clipping and saving will trim the fat off a budget. But making more money will pump up financial muscle.

Metro Atlanta’s unemployment rate showed improvement as it dropped to 10.4 percent, according to the state Labor Department. In March, 9,900 jobs were added in the area. To be sure, the pain is not yet over. However, increased income can turn a Band Aid into an antibiotic.

Whether newly hired or a company veteran, negotiating salary is an important component of financial security. Even in times of economic distress, asking for what you’re entitled to is acceptable, according to human resources and career coaching professionals.

“Companies are getting serious about pay for performance,” said Cathy Missildine-Martin, a board member for the Society for Human Resource Management in Atlanta. “If you’ve performed well, you should be confident about asking for money. When this economy heats up, they’ve got to be really serious about keeping their …

Continue reading Improve your finances by negotiating your salary »