...of Saving Money and Having Fun

Talk It Out:
Special Offers and Discounts


"Do you know of any special discount deals that are too good to keep to yourself? Please share them with other Counting the Cost readers." ~ Editor


Responses:

"This is a list of restaurants I found in an article in WNC Parents, if I remember correctly, last year. It might be wise to call and verify the offer before heading over to the restaurant.

* Applebee’s - Kids meals are 99 cents, drink included, on Tuesdays after 4 p.m.

* Beef’O’Brady’s - Children eat free on Tuesdays from 4 to 8 p.m.

* Fuddruckers - Children eat free Monday thru Wednesday after 4 p.m.

* IHOP - Children eat free every day after 4 p.m.

* Lone Star Steakhouse - Children eat free all day Tuesday.

* Moose Café - Children eat free every day after 4 p.m.

* O’Charley’s - Children eat free all day, every day.

* Texas Roadhouse - Children 12 and under eat free on Wednesdays after 4 p.m.

Other deals I have learned of recently is www.restaurant.com they sell $25 gift certificates for $10 and $10 gift certificates for $3, however I have also been able to find coupon codes online for 50-70% off the $10 and $3 prices. There are minimum purchase requirements and other restrictions, like lunch or dinner only.

I apologize that the following deals are regional but it may give you a lead for searching in other areas. www.ashevillerewards.com has several topics with links to coupons, from Dairy Queen buy one get one free blizzard to automotive discounts, health and beauty. . .. you could check your local city.  Along the same note as that there is a www.wncinsider.com  over 75 restaurants first visit is 2 for 1 deal, then 10% thereafter,some fast food restaurants like Subway, Sonic and at Chic-fil-A unlimited: Buy One Lunch or Dinner Combo and Receive 4 Nugget Kids Meal Free.  WNC Insider also has 10 or so categories similar to Asheville Rewards. There is a $30 membership fee for www.wncinsider.com

The last one I can think of at the moment is a local radio station sells $50 gift certificates for ½ price or less. www.965woxl.com there is a red banner at the top of the website that clearly states HALF PRICE gift certificates. I believe it is a clear channel station." ~ M. S



"My children have a program at their school called 'Book It.' It and it is sponsored by Pizza Hut. The teacher sends a printed page home for the month and we tally how minutes we read to our children. At the end of the month we turn the paper in to the teacher. She in turn sends home a coupon from Pizza Hut for a small personal Pan Pizza.  Our local Pizza Hut will let us go to the buffet instead of just getting the pizza. I grab a coupon from the Sunday paper and use it for my buffet. This makes for a nice treat each month. Pizza Hut will also give the children a snap on key chain and for every month the kids get a sticker. When the keychain is complete, they get a medal of achievement for reading.  It is a wonderful program." ~Tonya


"Pizza Hut has a book it program for children that encourages them to read and offers a free pan pizza for each month they meet the reading goal that you set." ~ Anonymous


"If you have ever purchased an Entertainment coupon book and registered on their web site (Entertainment.com), you are set!  First of all, the book really pays for itself in a very short time if you use the coupons whenever you need to stay or eat away from home.  Even if you don’t buy the book the next year, you can still access their web page.  There are many coupons that you can print and use over and over again. " ~ Jeanette



"Here are a few money-savers we frequently use:

 - Ponderosa Steakhouse has a 'Kids Eat for Free' night on Tuesdays. You can receive one free kids' meal for each adult entree purchased at full price. There are several other restaurants that provide free kids' meals one night per week, so check around. Our kids are all too old to use this now, but we made out like bandits when they were younger!!

 - Starbucks Coffee gives away their used coffee grounds on request. Coffee grounds can be used in the garden to provide added nitrogen, can be added to compost, can be used on slightly-icy walks to provide a safer surface for walking, or can be added in small amounts (along with corn meal if desired) to a yogurt to make a fantastic facial scrub. Used coffee grounds will also deter ants and mites, so add a tiny bit to house plants or sprinkle over or around ant hills. Evergreens flourish if used coffee grounds are scattered around the base of the tree. Another benefit is that worms LOVE coffee grounds, so sprinkling coffee grounds over a garden or mixing it into soil will attract many worms. 

 - Many discount bread stores will give away used bread racks if you ask the manager very politely for them. The bread racks can be stacked ion the garage or basement and make a fantastic location to store tools, flowers or herbs being dried, or any items shorter than 3.5 inches. They can even be spray-painted with plastic spray paint and used in the home for storage. Painted in bright or matching colors, kids' love these to store socks, small toys, etc.

 - The word 'colloidal' means 'disperses in water.' Instead of purchasing name-brand colloidal oatmeals, I purchase a pound of organic bulk oats and grind them up in the blender. For faster but slightly more expensive colloidal oatmeal, buy a pound of oat flour. It works great and is better for you because it contains no anti-clumping additives!

 - The best make-up removers I know are Soybean Oil or Corn Oil. You can find 48-oz bottles of each of those for less than a dollar in your local grocery store. Check the labels on the bottles of Vegetable Oils, as most are pure soybean oil. Both oils are wonderful for the skin and provide a light moisturization. An added bonus is that they both help prevent wrinkles!

Thanks so much for your e-zine. I look forward to reading it!" ~ Pamela


"There was a terrific article on MSN The Web's Best Shoppers that mentioned some of the best deal sites. My favorite by far is Slickdeals where you can find deals on everything from restaurants, electronics, consumer products of every kind, etc. Additionally, you can ask for help in finding particular deals. The folks there are wonderfully helpful and the advice has saved me hundreds of dollars a year! There is even a forum for free items which also covers those restaurants which offer free meals on  birthdays, such as Red Robin. Boston Market, etc. I also love the movie screening thread, from which I've been able to acquire over 30 free movie screening passes this past year. If you become a free member of Slickdeals, you are able to subscribe to various threads on the forums so that you can follow particular deals and received emails of updated information. It's wonderful!" ~ Jan

 

Editor's Note: Thanks to these subscribers for taking the time to respond.

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