Archive for May, 2010

Free Dunkin Donuts and Krispy Kreme

National Donut — or is it doughnut? — day is only a week away. My mouth is already watering, but I refuse to give in to the temptation that is sure to come. Dunkin Donuts is giving away a free donut with a drink purchase on Friday, June 4 in honor of the day. Krispy Kreme is giving away doughnuts as well, but no purchase is required.

$1 Kid Movies During AMC Summer Movie Camp

It’s that time of year, when kids can get all of the perks, including $1 movies during the AMC Summer Movie Camp. The shows, including favorites like “Shrek The Third,” “Hotel For Dogs,” and “The Spiderwick Chronicle,” will be shown at 10 a.m. on Tuesdays. You can purchase tickets ahead of time beginning June 8 and the movie showings run June 15-August 10. For the complete movie lineup, go to the Cities on the Cheap blog. Click here for participating theatres.

Free Breakfast at IKEA

Memorial Day weekend is always a big deal for shoppers. Take my advice and don’t do …

Continue reading National Doughnut Day | $1 Kids Movies | 50% off at Dolce | Free Refills at RaceTrac | Free IKEA breakfast »

Discounted Memorial Day weekend activities:

Diana: A Celebration is taking $3 off ticket purchases throughout this month for military personnel. Active and retired personnel are eligible for the discount if they present identification. Admission to the exhibit at the Atlanta Civic Center is free for military personnel on Memorial Day, May 31.

Stone Mountain Park Festivities

All active military personnel and Veterans will get free admission to Stone Mountain Park on Memorial Day weekend (May 29-31) with a valid military ID. Families visiting with a service member will get $3 off the price of an adult or children’s one-day Adventure Pass, up to six. The Lasershow will be dedicated to the men and women of the armed services.

Georgia Renaissance Festival

You’ll save at the Georgia Renaissance Festival if you go Memorial Day weekend: Tickets are buy one, get one free for full-priced adult tickets (not valid at Kroger or online). You can also use the WSB 98.5 …

Continue reading Save on free and cheap Memorial Day weekend events in Atlanta »

The no air conditioner challenge.

I’m not jumping on that bandwagon, but apparently there is one blogger who thought it would be a neat challenge to see if survival through the summer with an A.C. is possible. Not so secretly, I have my answer.

I do know, however, that I am willing to hold out longer than most. Until my teen years, we did not have central air conditioning in our family’s home. There were wall A.C.s that my mother despised turning on because they were inefficient and expensive. Instead, she opted for the box fans in the windows (a cooling method that still can put me fast asleep on a lazy summer afternoon) and later ceiling fans.

Undoubtedly, there are ways to keep cool — rather, cooler — if you forgo air conditioning. That makes me wonder: Is the A.C. a luxury or a necessity?

Block The Sun

Pull the curtains together and close the blinds to protect the room for the scorching summer sun. That doesn’t cost you a dime.

Turn on the Ceiling Fan

Of course, the fan …

Continue reading A summer without A.C.? 9 ways to stay cool and save »

By the time someone calls or goes online to seek financial counseling, their back is most likely already against the wall. Lurking on the other end, too often, are companies more likely to take advantage of the situation than assist in making it better.

Sometimes, the names of those companies are so similar to legitimate ones, it’s hard to distinguish at first blush. That is a primary reason one of the area’s mainstays, Consumer Credit Counseling Service of Greater Atlanta, changed its name this week after 46 years to CredAbility.

“There are names that are confusingly similar,” said Bill Cloud of the Georgia Office of Consumer Affairs. And not all of those are putting consumers’ needs first.

Since the start of the recession in 2007, the Better Business Bureau has received more than 3,500 complaints about debt settlement companies. Attorneys General from 10 states, not including Georgia, have taken action against numerous companies in the last 36 months.

“Our …

Continue reading Credit counseling agency draws the line with predators »

$5 off Phantom of the Opera

The Phantom of the Opera returns to the Fox Theatre June 30-July 18 for its farewell engagement. The producers of the opera announced earlier this year that the Third National Tour will close this fall in Los Angeles after a highly successful run of 17 years. That makes this a must-see for me. While there may be more significant discounts as the date gets closer, the only one available now is $5 off select tickets when you use promo code BRAVES. For every ticket purchased using that code, an additional $5 will be donated to the Atlanta Braves Foundation. Ticket prices range from $17 to $64 and can be purchased at the Fox Theatre or through Ticketmaster.

World of Coca-Cola Memorial Day events

The Market at Pemberton Place, the green space located just outside of the World of Coca-Cola, will be the site of a host of family friendly activities this weekend. In addition to music and games, artisans will display their works of jewelry, woodworking, …

Continue reading Discount on Phantom of the Opera | Free night at Punchline | Free breakfast at IKEA | Cold Stone coupon | Free World of Coca-Cola event »

Ultimate Kids Day at Turner Field

Sunday is all about the kids at Turner Field. Its the Braves Ultimate Kids Day, when all interactive games and the museum are free. Atlanta Braves alumni will sign pre-game autographs and kids can participate in a pre-game parade. While museum entry is free, the event is $5 for kids 14 and under. And remember that with your coupon found in Sunday’s Atlanta Journal-Constitution, you can buy one ticket and get one free when you redeem the coupon at the box office. On Memorial Day, the Beach Boys will give a free concert after the game.

Dads eat free at Shula’s 347

No, it’s not too early to start planning for Father’s Day. June 20 will be here before you know it, so you might as well start thinking about what Dad would want. A steak, perhaps? Shula’s 347 is feeding all dads for free on Father’s Day. Just purchase one entree’ and the other is on the house. Shula’s is located in the Atlanta Marriott Buckhead Hotel at 3405 Lenox Road, N.E., Atlanta. …

Continue reading Dads eat free on Father’s Day at Shula’s | Ultimate Kids Day at Turner Field »

I do not like wearing high heel shoes. And I do not like to spend a lot of money on shoes of any kind. I rarely pick up a pair that isn’t on the clearance rack.

Alas, I am virtually alone  in my circle of friends when it comes to this. Women love shoes. Designer, four-inch heels, sassy sandals and boots that will make your head spin. It is not all that rare these days to find men with more tennis shoes than they can wear. One thing even the most shoe savvy shoppers have in common: They prefer a good deal.

In 2006, designer Manolo Blahnik autographed shoes for customers at Neiman Marcus in Lenox Square. AJC file photo

A friend of mine told me that he found a pair of very expensive shoes for his wife by using FreeCycle.org, where customers exchange all kinds of items they no longer want for things they do want or need. His wife is best left in the dark about the source of this deal, but when I learned about it, I applauded.

It’s difficult to find what I would inexpensive …

Continue reading ‘Hello Stiletto’: 5 ways to save on designer shoes »

Wal-Mart slashes iPhone cost

Starting today, Wal-Mart is selling the 16 gigabyte  iPhone 3GS for $97 — $100 off the regular price. At this price, the Smartphone would be purchased new with a two-year contract. According to the Associated Press, leaked prototypes of a new iPhone have appeared on blogs recently. Apple is preparing for its annual developer conference where last year, the current 3GS version debuted. Apple declined to comment about whether it is coming out with a new iPhone.

Spice Market Fortune Cookies worth…

Remember when fortune cookies used to tell you about your love life, friendships and the undeniable riches coming your way? I wonder how many were actually accurate? Well, no matter. You’re more likely to see a fortune blossom into reality during Spice Market restaurant’s promotion that runs through the end of August. When you buy a dinner or lunch entree, you’ll get a fortune cookie and inside it will be prizes like a free night’s stay at the W Atlanta …

Continue reading iPhone price slashed at Wal-Mart | Free family summer camp | Deals at Spice Market | Daily Deal site bargains »

The massive financial reform bill passed by the Senate last week doesn’t just impact Wall Street. The bill, awaiting reconciliation with the House version, touches every day consumers affected by credit.

With the approval of an amendment to the bill proposed by Sen. Mark Udall (D-Colo), many could soon have free access to their credit score. Since December 2003, consumers have been able to get their credit report for free once a year from annualcreditreport.com. Georgia residents have additionally been entitled by the Fair Business Practices Act to two free credit reports from each reporting agency per year.

However, despite the craftily worded advertisements for “free” scores that come with a $14.95 credit monitoring service subscription, there was no way to get your credit score without paying for it. With the passage of the Fair Access to Credit Scores Act, anyone denied insurance, loan or utilities or given unfavorable terms based on their credit score and …

Continue reading Free access to credit scores on the horizon »

I could save more money if I:

– Mowed my own lawn. Every two weeks, I pay someone to cut what is a fairly small yard. I’ll admit I’m a bit stubborn in this area. Growing up, I earned extra money by cutting grass during the summer. At home, my brother and I shard the yard duties, which were fairly significant since we had a huge yard. I vowed I wouldn’t do it once I became an adult, and I haven’t. But now, I’m rethinking that. I know it’s a big waste of money to shell that out on a regular basis.

Photo credit: Jeffry Scott, AJC

– Washed my own car. Sure, I’d use more water washing my car at home, but I wouldn’t have to pay a car wash to clean and detail the car if I took a Saturday afternoon to do it myself.

– Did my own hair. Maintaining regular hair appointments is one of my most substantial monthly expenses. Eliminating just one appointment a month would reap a handsome savings.

– Used public transportation daily. I am a fan of the convenience of MARTA. I use it at least …

Continue reading You could save more money if you… »