Archive for September, 2012

Usually it’s pizza and beer that make the best pairing, but we’ll take what we can get.

In celebration of National Coffee Day (which is Sept. 29), Atlanta area McDonald’s restaurants are offering each customer a free small Premium Roast McCafé Coffee. The giveaway, which began yesterday, runs until Saturday. Just ask and it’s yours! (For more info, check out newsroom colleague Leon Stafford’s story.

And now for the pizza…

Every Monday for $12 get all the pizza and focaccia you can eat at Alon’s Bakery and Market in Dunwoody. The special runs from 5 to 9 p.m.

You can also get 50 percent off a large cheese pizza and two drinks from Slice Downtown courtesy of this deal on AmazonLocal. You pay $9 for an $18 value. Slice is open until midnight Monday through Thursday and until 2 a.m. on Friday and Saturday.

Continue reading Free coffee…and cheap pizza »

After a brief transition, I’m happy to announce … I’m your new Atlanta Bargain Hunter!

And the timing couldn’t be better.

Atlanta Bargain Hunter Nedra Rhone has covered shopping, style, lifestyle trends and consumer issues for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution since 2006.

Kids are back in school, iPhone 5 is on shelves, stores have launched holiday layaways and Black Friday is fast approaching. Whew! It’s enough to make a savvy shopper’s head spin. As always, think of the Atlanta Bargain Hunter as your guide and companion through it all.

In addition to keeping you informed about the best deals and steals throughout metro Atlanta, I’ll be sharing information that impacts your life as a consumer, whether it’s how you spend your money, make your money or manage your money.

To me, bargain hunting is a bit of a sport that can involve pursuing, comparing and couponing until you get the merchandise you want or need. The thrill of the hunt is in my DNA. Sometimes the payoff is a …

Continue reading Meet the new Atlanta Bargain Hunter »

Certified financial planner Wes Moss provides personal finance advice and accessible investment strategies. His guest post appears here weekly.

Wes Moss hosts 'Money Matters' Sunday mornings on AM750 and 95.5FM News/Talk WSB.

In the presidential horse race, the Gallup Poll serves as the track announcer, bellowing out a steady stream of numbers detailing who is ahead and by how much. No modern day president (since Dwight Eisenhower) has won re-election without at least a 50 percent approval rating heading into the election.

At the end of last work week, Gallup’s election poll had President Barack Obama and Mitt Romney deadlocked at 47 percent each, with Obama’s approval rating also at just 47 percent. (Gallup updates its polling page at 1 p.m. daily.)

But there are other, less-familiar numbers we should be watching as the campaigns move toward the final stretch: numbers related to the economy.

Unemployment rate: No modern-era president has won re-election with the jobless …

Continue reading Wes Moss: Can economic numbers predict this election? »

Publix deals

Maybelline, GUM: Find many good store coupons and sale items for Publix in the “Score Big Savings” circular found in store flyer racks. You can combine Publix store coupons with manufacturers coupons for the same item. For example, the Publix flyer has a coupon for $2 off any Maybelline cosmetic. Combine that with $1 Maybelline coupons found in the Sept. 9 RedPlum circular to save $3 off per item. Publix has GUM Super Tip or Micro Tip toothbrushes on sale for $1 each in select stores. Use the 55-cent coupon from the Aug. 5 SmartSource circular to pay 45 cents per toothbrush.

Walgreens

Balance Rewards: Walgreens has a new savings program called Balance Rewards, which began Sunday. You can join in-store or online. Once you’ve joined, use your Balance Rewards card or phone number at the register to earn points on purchases that you can redeem for store credit at Walgreens. You can even download a free app that tracks your reward points. Every 1,000 points is …

Continue reading Coupon Mom: Score big savings with new circular »

Consumer expert Clark Howard’s column appears here each Thursday in conjunction with Deal Spotter, a weekly print section in The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

Listen to Clark's live radio show 1-3 p.m. weekdays on AM750 and 95.5FM News/Talk WSB.

If you are looking to save money on gas, the nation’s largest retailer has an offer for you in nearly two dozen states.

The cost of gas at wholesale is dropping after a run-up in price leading up to Hurricane/Tropical Storm Isaac. There has been no damage to drilling rigs or refineries in the Gulf Coast area to speak of. So day by day, more production is coming back online. Of course, the price at retail always lags behind wholesale, but the overall fears about Isaac running up gas prices across the nation didn’t play out.

Now Walmart has come out with a promotion offering a discount of 15 cents per gallon through Dec. 24. You simply fill up at any Walmart gas station and, if you use a Walmart money card or credit card, the discount …

Continue reading Clark Howard: Walmart cards cut the cost of gas »

Celebrity style

Macy’s: My celebrity style icon is Nicole Richie, and I am excited about her new limited-edition, eponymous capsule collection, now available in select Macy’s stores and online. This line represents accessible high fashion without the high price tag, as prices range from $49-$149. This is great savings considering her House of Harlow 1960 collection sells for upwards of $65-$545.

Furry fashionista

Chief Furry Officer: My dog, Sasha, and I are now fashionistas together. From sterling silver necklaces to handmade dog collars, Chief Furry Officer has something for you and your pet. Sasha is the proud owner of the Beverly Hills leash and collar and she gets many compliments when we are out and about. Save 15 percent at checkout with code JESSICASHOPS (excludes fine jewelry, cufflinks, sterling silver photo jewelry and gift cards).

Keep glowing

Jennifer Bradley: I found a way to keep my summer tan going, thanks to celebrity South Florida-based makeup artist …

Continue reading Jessica Shops: Celebrity style for us, fashion for our pets »

Some people will do anything for a free treat. On Wednesday, Krispy Kreme wants you to open up and say, “A-r-r-r-gh!” Buccaneers who honor “Talk Like a Pirate Day” will receive a free glazed doughnut at one of four metro Atlanta locations.

Those who dare to wear full pirate regalia will get a free dozen glazed doughnuts. Participating area locations are in Roswell (791 Atlanta St.), Duluth (1550 Pleasant Hill Rd. Suite 101), Buford (3387 Buford Drive) and Atlanta (295 Ponce De Leon Ave.).

Free state parks admission

“Your State Parks Day”: Georgia’s state parks and historic sites will waive parking fees and admission on Sept. 29 in honor of National Public Lands Day (parking is regularly $5, while admission prices range depending on site). For a listing of parks you can visit for free, visit GeorgiaStateParks.org or call 1-800-864-7275.

Big discounts on books

Book fair: Book lovers take note of the deals at the 53rd annual American Association of University Women …

Continue reading Deals roundup: Talk like a pirate, get a Krispy Kreme (Arrgh!) »

Certified financial planner Wes Moss provides personal finance advice and accessible investment strategies. His guest post appears here weekly.

Wes Moss hosts 'Money Matters' Sunday mornings on AM750 and 95.5FM News/Talk WSB.

Can you guess who I had dinner with earlier this month? Denzel Washington. Well, not really, but he did sit at the restaurant table next to ours.

And guess who might get a welcome-t0-the-neighborhood casserole from the Moss family: Owen Wilson. I’m told if I play my cards right I might also get to hang out with other Hollywood A-listers like Vince Vaughn and Cuba Gooding Jr.

I’m not just name-dropping here. If you earn a lot of money, this sudden influx of movie stars could have a serious impact on your tax bill.

Georgia’s Entertainment Industry Investment Act of 2008 gives tax credits of up to 30 percent to companies “producing feature films, television series, music videos and commercials, as well as interactive games and animation,” in the …

Continue reading Wes Moss: How Georgia’s film-TV biz could cut your taxes »

Kroger’s deals duo

These are the final days of Kroger’s Mega Promotion, which ends Saturday. When you buy 10 participating items, you automatically get $5 off your bill. Kraft has a Catalina promotion running at the same time, which gives you a coupon off your next order when you buy participating items. When you combine the two promotions at Kroger, you’ll hit the savings jackpot. For example, Kraft American cheese singles (12 ounce) are $1.49 after the mega promotion savings. If you buy 10 Kraft items, you’ll get a coupon for $10 off a future order, so your net cost will be 49 cents per package if you get 10 Kraft items. Some Kroger stores have a coupon box on the shelf with $1 off two coupons, which would make the cost of the cheese zero.

Lunchtime savings: Another Kroger Mega Promotion and Kraft Catalina combination deal includes Kraft Mayonnaise or Miracle Whip at a net cost of 49 cents (down from $4.49) using the 50-cent coupon from the Aug. 19 SmartSource …

Continue reading Coupon Mom: 2 promotions equal savings jackpot »

Consumer expert Clark Howard’s column appears here each Thursday in conjunction with Deal Spotter, a weekly print section in The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

I have a way to add more than $2,000 to your annual household income and there’s no pay increase needed.

A new study from the Natural Resources Defense Council finds Americans now throw away 40 percent of their food each year — at home, in restaurants and in the supermarket. That equates to $165 billion in wasted food each year.

The typical family of four ends up throwing out nearly $2,300 in food annually.

We’re all guilty of this. I think about myself in my own life. I was going to serve my kids some milk from the fridge and it had that rank smell. So I poured out about 20 percent of the gallon. I did that just out of habit.

Then I think about how many times things go out of date or spoil at my house. I ate a banana last night that was marginal. There was a peach that went unloved so I threw it out. We do this …

Continue reading Clark Howard: Tossing out food costs way too much »