Hawaii on $70/day. Credit: Glenn
Hawaii can be frugal – longtime reader Glenn proves it with his 10-day jaunt for $1,501.61 – including hotel and airfare! Without hotel, he spent $83 per day. Here is how he did it:
I flew with Hawaiian Airlines using all my air miles to book the round trip. According to their web site, the value of each flight was $402, so I saved $804 plus taxes and government fees. I accumulated my miles using the Hawaiian Visa Air Miles card since 2005. The annual fee was $25, so from 2006 through 2010, it cost me $125 by the time I was able to redeem my miles. I was able to cancel my card before the 2011 annual fee was due. Overall, not bad I would say. I did have to pay $25 for my one checked suitcase each way which I think is a total rip. And I did pay $40 for shuttle service to-and-from my house to LAX and back. And $27.50 for shuttle service to-and-from Honolulu International Airport to my hotel.
I booked my hotels through Hotels.com. My original plan was to use Priceline so I could enter my own price. However, after (more…)
Art gallery openings are free and even have snacks! Credit: robokirby/Flickr
My little brother confided in me that having a girlfriend is squeezing his budget. When he was in college, she often picked up the tab. But now that he has his degree and is working, it’s his turn to take her out. “Eating out is expensive!” he told me. Um, yeah.
Part of the problem is that because of their work schedules, the evening is the only time they can get together. In my budget for a new college grad I allotted $20/week for fun and $30/week for food. That is not enough to eat out every night. So how are two twenty-somethings to find fun without spending a lot? I brainstormed this list of 9 dates.
1. Get a Netflix subscription for $10.69 per month, including tax. This “one DVD at a time” subscription gives you about 3-6 DVDs per month, depending on how quick you watch and return each disc. The two of you can fill your Netflix queue with movies and TV shows you pick together. Cost: $2.50 per week.
2. Get moving. Pull on your sweats and go (more…)
I’ve decided to continue featuring Groupon deals thanks to all your feedback on the daily deal site. I realized that for every one of you who has used Groupon, like Punam, who is buying Groupon deals for a trip to Chicago,Toronto, and Vegas, there are many more who don’t get it. The always-shrewd Diane says:
Not knowing anything about Groupons, I was surprised to see so much enthusiasm. To get an idea of what a Groupon is, I looked at the one in Los Angeles. Question: When a site tells the “value” of its offer, how do you know that really is the value without shopping around? Like anything for sale anywhere, they can say whatever they want about something’s worth.
Great question Diane! I like that you get to the heart of the matter – is the deal a good value? Here’s how I evaluate a Groupon (more…)
Digital Vincent/Flickr
Kim emailed me saying she is selling things her family doesn’t need to bring in extra income. I failed at selling my crap on eBay so I had to know how Kim is doing it. She writes:
My husband is recently in the job market, so the family finances needed a boost. He had been an avid dvd collector and my #1 son told me to sell off some of the dvds that we weren’t interested in watching again. I just put in the serial number on the back and the website told me whether they were selling or not, and approximately what price they would sell for. We keep about 40 on Amazon
at any given time, and have sold just over 100 in six weeks. Some of the best sellers were (more…)
racoles / Flickr
This is a post by BargainBabe.com writer Yazmin Cruz.
Spring break is fast approaching and it’s time to start making plans. On a budget? No problem. You can still have fun. Follow these five tips to get the most for your buck and then check out our cheap Spring Break suggestions below.
Here’s what do do:
1. Be sincere with yourself about how much money you can afford to spend.
2. Start planning. The sooner you do this, the most likely you’ll be to find deals on hotels and flights.
3. Book flights and make reservations right now to get the lowest prices available. Word on the street is that the cheapest fares are released for bookings on (more…)
Looks like their date went well! Credit: kissyface/Flickr
Stay tuned for Bobbi’s post tomorrow about five simple Valentine’s Day crafts. I’m going to use at least two of her ideas!
1. Go see improv comedy. It’s often very cheap, say $10 or less a ticket, and some clubs even have a BYOB policy. Ask about specials, check the troupe’s website for coupons, or plan a group outing and call ahead for bulk discounts. Improv.com has some improv comedy listings but a better bet might be to Google “improv comedy + your zip code.”
2. Take your date to the taping of a TV show. BargainBabe.com blogger Bobbi knows all the ins and outs to scoring free TV show tickets.
3. Participate in a (more…)
By Bobbi Burger Brunoehler of Bobbisbargains.
di_the_huntress/Flickr
I love family traditions, which are so special that people like to talk about them, share them, take pictures of them, and gather to enjoy them. The December holiday season is a great time to establish family traditions.
If you are bemoaning the fact that you have no family traditions; fear not. It only takes a couple years to start traditions that will last a lifetime. Here are five ideas to get you started: (more…)
By Bobbi Burger Brunoehler of Bobbisbargains.
Kat Touhy Photography/flash mob
People often ask me, “How can I have really fun times with my family on a budget?”
This past weekend, I had such an amazing frugal family adventure with my son and daughter (hubby was working), that I decided to share our itinerary with you.
Saturday
- 7 a.m.- Left for our adventure with a fully packed picnic basket and plenty of water after having a good breakfast. This saved us a ton of money as we needed to have lunch and dinner on the road.
- 8 a.m. – We attended a secret dance rehearsal in the Aquarium under Santa Monica Pier for a Heal the Bay awareness Flash Mob. (A flash mob is a large group of people who assemble suddenly in a public place (more…)
Netflix and Redbox both offer convenience without the cost of a monthly cable bill. But which is better?
I set out to compare the two services (Blockbuster’s bankruptcy filing may eliminate Blockbuster Express) based on price, convenience, and selection quality. As part of this comparison, I am giving away three one-month free trials to Netflix. A friend gave them to me and I am passing them onto you. To win, comment on this post about which home movie service is the best, in your humble opinion…oh wait. Anyone can get a free one-month trial on the Netflix homepage. Guess this prize isn’t so exclusive!
Factor No. 1: Price
Netflix plans run from $5 to $48 per month. The plan that seems the most advantageous costs $9 per month and lets you have one DVD at a time with no monthly limit and unlimited streaming. Once you watch your DVD and mail it back to Netflix, you get a new DVD in (more…)
James Cridland/Flickr
Today only! Free ice cream – Get a free ice cream scoop at Carvel today only during their annual customer appreciation event. The freebie is a 3 ounce scoop.
Free beer! This is not a joke. Budweiser is giving away free beer at select bars and restaurants across the country on Wednesday, Sept. 29, 2010 as part of a publicity campaign. For bargain hunters aged 21 and older. Stay tuned for details.
Free movie rental – Rent a movie for free with this Blockbuster Express coupon code, valid through Sept. 30, 2010.
Make up coupon – Use this E.L.F. coupon to buy one make up item and get the second for 50% off. Most of the make up at E.L.F. is $1 each. Expires Oct. 12, 2010.
Borders coupon – Get 33% off the list price of any one item with this Borders coupon. Expires today Sept. 23, 2010. Comes with the usual caveats.
Check out all the deals and coupons on my WalletPop blog.
Banjo Brown/Flickr
Teacher discounts – I compiled a huuuuge list of discounts available to teachers and educators.
JC Penney coupon - This is an awesome JC Penney coupon for $10 off a purchase of $10 or more. Valid online only. Expiration unknown.
Free performances – Make a reservation now to catch free theater through the month of October. Free shows are scheduled around the country.
Quiznos coupon – Get free chips and a fountain drink when you buy a sub sandwich or a regular salad with this Quiznos coupon.
Piperlime coupon – Here is a hot Piperlime coupon for 25% off with very few exclusions – today only! Wait till tomorrow and the discount drops to 20% off, then Thursday the coupon is for 15% off. Remember to shop through eBates for an extra 15% cash back rebate. I may well stack these discounts to get a new pair of winter boots. What about you?
Check out all the coupons and deals on my WalletPop blog.
Illustration by OConnorCartoons.com
$10 iTunes offer - Get a bonus $10 iTunes gift certificate when you cash in at least $40 worth of coins at participating Coinstar machines. If you cash in $40, that puts you $6 ahead! Ends Sept. 30, 2010.
Free soda at movies – Get a free small drink at Regal Theaters, United Artists Cinemas, or Edwards Theaters this Friday, Sept. 17 only when you like the Regal Facebook page.
Magazine sale – Amazon has put 14 magazines on sale, plus get an extra $5-$10 off. A year of Rolling Stone is just $15, for example.
Prescription transfer coupon – Get a $20 RiteAid gift card and send $5 to your local PTA when you use this prescription transfer coupon.
Check out all the coupons and offers on my WalletPop blog.
Illustration by OConnorCartoons.com
Back to school – Vista Print is offering 10 freebies right now, many of which can be used as back to school supplies. Unclear how long the promotion lasts.
Restaurant.com – The latest Restaurant.com coupon code gets you 80% off! Expires Aug. 31, 2010.
Free sample – Get a free sample of Aveeno Nourish shampoo and condition for sharing a little info about yourself. Unclear when this offer ends.
Big sale at Gap, Old Navy, and Banana Republic - Starting tomorrow through Sunday (Aug. 26-29) there is a big ol’ 30% off sale at Gap, Old Navy, and Banana Republic. You can feel good about spending, too, because 5% of what you buy goes to a charity of your choosing. I want a new sweater!
Free movie rental – Rent one movie from Blockbuster Express and get the second movie rental free. Expires today!
Check out all the coupons and deals on my WalletPop blog.
sean dreilinger / flickr
This is a post by BargainBabe.com writer Yazmin Cruz.
A couple weeks ago, my sister begged me to take her to watch “Eclipse” and I caved. Since I wasnt interested in the movie, the last thing I wanted to do was spend a bunch of money, so I decided to try an independent theater near my area.
I paid $6.50 for a matinee showing. Score! Nowadays, the cost of movie tickets is steep but with some simple changes you can save money when going to the movies. Heres how:
Think independent. Im not suggesting you go by yourself. Find local independent theaters and frequent them for their low prices. The theater I went to is small and only has three screens but it was clean and had an old Hollywood vibe to it.
Go to a matinee. The easiest way to save money and avoid the crowds is to head to the movie theater in the morning and not during peak days like Friday and Saturday. Make sure to check the times your local movie theater considers matinees as it varies from theater to theater.
Avoid the concession stand. These days, popcorn is more expensive than movie tickets. Instead bring your own snacks. Many of our Bargain Babe Facebook friends confessed to sneaking in snacks to save money. Ive done the same.
Use the student, senior, and military discount. Many theaters offer discounted prices to students, seniors, and military personnel so make sure to present your ID at the box office to get a discount.
Head to Costco. Not only can you buy a year’s worth of toilet paper but you can get cheaper movie tickets. I bought two tickets for $15.49 for the Regal Cinemas chain that I will use to watch “Inception.” The cashier told me the warehouse also sells AMC tickets for a couple cents more.
Clip coupons. Another friend, Kristin, said she buys Entertainment Books when they are discounted (the books are currently going for $10-$15 for 2010) and clips coupons to get cheap movie tickets. Movie tickets cost $5 to $6 with the Entertainment Book.
Buy in bulk. If youre loyal to a theater, take advantage of their rewards program. AMC Theaters’ AMC MovieWatcher Rewards offers two points per ticket purchased and you can receive free concessions or tickets for every 10 points earned. The Regal Cinemas’ Regal Crown Club awards one point per $1 spent. When you rack up 120 points, you can redeem them for a free ticket. Other theaters send special offers to members.
Avoid reservation sites. Buy online and you’ll end up paying more for your tickets. Movietickets.com has a $1 surcharge and Fandango.com tacks on $.75 to $1.50 per ticket, depending on the area.
Get a free ticket to a TV show instead. BargainBabe.com blogger Bobbi previously shared about a dozen tips for getting hooked up with free TV show tickets.
Sign up with Film Metro. It’s free and they will send you invites to movie screenings. At college campuses, there are often people offering free movie passes for screenings.
How do you save money when going to the movies?
Quiznos -The $3 meal coupon is back! For $3 you get a small sub, chips, and regular fountain soda. Not bad at all.
Old Navy – Get 30% off new arrivals with this Old Navy coupon code. Expires Thursday, July 22, 2010.
Gap - Get 20% off with this GapKids coupon code (also valid on BabyGap) or get 60% off women’s summer clearance. Expiration dates vary.
Carvel – Get one of two Carvel coupons for joining their email list.
Blockbuster Express – Today only! Rent one movie and get a second movie rental free with this coupon code.
Check out all the coupons and deals on my WalletPop blog.
