Archive for October, 2010

Discount at Sip Wine

My colleague, Food and More blogger John Kessler, just reviewed the wine bar, Sip Wine. After reading it, I definitely wanted to give the place a try. Then, I look up and LivingSocial.com has a daily deal for the establishment: a two-hour wine and cheese tasting and $20 to spend on wine and food, all for $15. This is surely a sign about my next dinner reservation.

Free Scary Face Pancake

Today, IHOP is giving children 12 and under a free “Scary Face Pancake.” There’s a limit of one per child for dine in customers.

Free admission to Imagine It! The Atlanta Children’s Museum

Kids in costume are admitted free on Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 30-31, to Imagine It! The Atlanta Children’s Museum. As if children wouldn’t enjoy the museum enough, having them there in spooky, funny and cute costumes elevates the occasion.

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Continue reading Discount at Sip Wine | Free “Scary Pancake” at IHOP | Children’s Museum free »

20 percent off at Denny’s

According to dealnews.com, this 20 percent off coupon at Denny’s is the first time the restaurant has offered this promotion  in more than a year. Use this printable coupon to take 20 percent off your entire bill when you order a ‘build your own omelette’ through Nov. 1. Enter your zip code in the restaurant locator to find a participating location near you.

Toys “R” Us Great Big Christmas Book

Waiting until Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving, to look for holiday deals is so 2008. Nowadays, it’s all about Black Friday in October, and that includes the release of the Toys “R” Us Great Big Christmas Book, which will be in Sunday’s Atlanta Journal-Constitution. In the print catalog, expect to find 80 pages of toys, games, bikes, electronics and more. The deals in the book will be available through Nov. 24. The folks at the big toy store tell us that there will be more than $5,600 in savings this year, the most ever, as well as at least 50 free …

Continue reading Toys “R” Us Great Big Christmas Book in Sunday’s AJC | Coupons: Zoo and Denny’s »

Little — or big — stacks of bills are shoved in a drawer. Bills and notices, some needing immediate attention and others needing to be discarded, are lumped in one pile. The mail comes into the house and is tossed on a table and ignored until you’re tired of looking at it.

It’s paperwork chaos, and besides the general mess it’s creating, the result of such disorganization is often symbolic of financial upheaval as well. Eliminating clutter can clear the path for a more accountable and efficient financial plan, experts say.

It can also bring in money. Items no longer needed or used can be sold or donated for additional revenue. You’re better able to keep track of what you have and don’t have. And, you might even get lucky, said Decatur’s Susan Fox, co-owner of Chaos 2 Comfort.

“We always find money: cash, checks and traveler’s checks,” Fox said. “That in itself makes a huge difference. We found $8,000 for one client.”

So, how do you emerge from the paper …

Continue reading Cleaning up clutter can help clean up finances »

Save on Atlanta Falcons tickets

Deion Sanders, who wowed Atlanta Falcons fans with his blistering speed and Prime Time play, will be inducted into the Falcons’ Ring of Honor on Nov. 11. You can save up to $21 per seat for that game, as they pay homage to No. 21 during the game against the Baltimore Ravens at the Georgia Dome. Sanders’ number will be retired. The same $21 savings is available for the Nov. 7 game against Tampa Bay. There is no special promotional code for the discounted rate; ticket prices are simply a bit less than those for other select games.

Continue reading Save on Falcons tickets »

New arts deal site worth bookmarking

The number of deal sites here in metro Atlanta is staggering. Here’s one, however, that is well worth bookmarking. It’s specifically tailored for arts lovers, with bargains at cultural and family events throughout the area. Welcome, Goldstar.com. Right now, tickets for OVO by Cirque du Soleil at Atlantic Station are discounted to $30-$45 (regularly priced $50-$75). There are also discounts for Atlanta Hawks games, Disney Live! Mickey’s Magic Show and more. You do have to register with Goldstar.com to view the deals, but registration is free.

45% off Atlanta Thrashers game

The Atlanta Thrashers take on the Buffalo Sabres at Philips Arena on Oct. 29. Through Travelzoo.com, you can score tickets to this game at 45 percent off. Upper level seats are $25-$31 — regularly priced at $47-$57. When you buy the tickets through Ticketmaster.com (expect to pay the usual Ticketmaster fees), use promo code ZOO to get your discount.

BOGO for Charlotte’s …

Continue reading Bookmark Goldstar.com deals | BOGO Charlotte’s Web | Belk Charity Sale | Georgia Aquarium deal »

Each week, a certified financial planner or advisor shares tips for managing money and preparing for your financial future. This week’s guest post is from Lee Baker of Apex Financial Services.

Thinking about starting a business? Should I consider hiring a financial planner and if so when?

Starting a business is an incredibly daunting venture.  Having done it myself, I can vouch from firsthand experience.  Inevitably, you’ll ask yourself whether you should consider working with a financial planner. The answer is a resounding “Maybe!”  If you are certain that you are on top of all the complex financial issues you are likely to face, then perhaps you don’t need a to work with anyone.  On the other hand if you are not so sure, talking to a planner sooner rather than later is a very good idea.

Look for a planner that has experience working with small business owners or start ups.  The value that you might get from a planner helping you avoid a mistake could be priceless.  Many …

Continue reading Seek expert financial advice before starting a business »

Certified financial planner Wes Moss provides personal finance advice and accessible investment strategies. His guest blog will appear here weekly.

Three Letters That Can Tell You A Lot

I’m often asked, “What exactly is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ practitioner and do I need one?” There is no right answer to the second part of that question, because at the end of the day you need to be comfortable with the approach and relationship you have with your financial advisor. But the Certified Financial Planner™ designation does indicate that an advisor has the training and experience to build a financial plan for you and your family. The CFP® is not easy to obtain.  It requires a minimum of three years industry experience, a national board certification which includes a very long two-day exam, and ongoing educational requirements.

Disclosure: I am a CFP® practitioner…and, you will see me add practitioner or professional every time I use those three letters, as technically …

Continue reading Wes Moss: 5 ways a certified financial planner can help you reach your goals »

50% off White Christmas

This promises to be a wonderful holiday show at the Fox Theatre. White Christmas, an Irving Berlin musical, comes to the Fox Nov. 2-7. You can get 50 percent off tickets to the Theatre of the Stars production on Nov. 2 and 3. To snag this deal, purchase tickets through Ticketmaster at any Publix grocery store.

50% off Atlanta Ballet’s ‘Moulin Rouge’

The Atlanta Ballet is in its 81st season and is currently performing “Moulin Rouge” at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre. Tickets are 50 percent off — not including Ticketmaster fees — through Travelzoo.com for shows on Oct. 30 and 31. Use promo code ZOO for select Orchestra and Mezzanine seats for the 2 p.m. performance on either date. Tickets are $33.50-$44 (regularly priced $67-$88).

50% off Michael Bolton concert at the Ferst Center

Michael Bolton is coming to the Ferst Center of the Arts on the campus of Georgia Tech Oct. 28. Tickets are half off when you use promo code Bolton Fan when ordering …

Continue reading 50% off ‘White Christmas’ at the Fox | 50% off Atlanta Ballet’s ‘Moulin Rouge’ | 50% off Michael Bolton | $15 for ‘Black Nativity’ »

Certified financial planner Wes Moss provides personal finance advice and accessible investment strategies. His guest blog will appear here every Monday.

Where do you get advice?

What are your options to get financial advice?  Who do you turn to?  What can you expect?

The stock market is a difficult place to navigate — full of speed bumps, roadblocks, steep assents…and sharp declines.  However, in the long run, patient, disciplined investors have been rewarded. Over the past five decades $1, has grown into $23.31 adjusted for inflation.

Simple enough, right?  Invest consistently, stay patient, and you will end up with healthy gains. But where exactly do you invest to maximize your earnings?  Large cap or small cap?  What do those terms mean?  Domestic or international?  Individual bonds or bond funds?  Emerging or developed?  How much in each?

There are countless sources of investment advice, ranging in cost from free to very expensive, and from extremely valuable to worse …

Continue reading Wes Moss: Where to get financial advice — from free to expensive »

I’ll be taking a few days of vacation to refresh and renew as we gear up for the holiday bargain shopping season.

Continue reading Vacation Break »