Houston Blogs: SuperSaver

Three Deals You Don't Want To Miss

Get those Halloween pictures printed at Walgreens online this week for 50% off with coupon code "TREAT" through Saturday, Nov 11

Download Taylor Swifts new CD "Speak Now" at Amazon.com for only 99¢ with coupon code "STUDENT3" at checkout through 11/1 after then it is $3.99

Toy Story 3 - Several stores have great deals on this DVD or Blu-Ray. You can get $8 off with this coupon and mail in for a $5 rebate taking $13 off your total. ETA: Here is another $5 rebate too, making it an even better deal. You can also get coupons for the Campbells here and coupons for the batteries here.

FREE Stuff Friday

Halloween weekend is finally here!  Don't forget to go out and have some FREE fun this weekend.

FREE Scary Face pancake at IHOP on Friday, October 29th for kids 12 and under

TGIFridays has three days of specials starting on Friday, October 29th. Friday and Saturday: FREE appetizer for anyone wearing a costume. Sunday: kids eat FREE off the kids menu when dressed in costume when an adult meal is purchased

Bass Pro Shops will have all kinds of Halloween crafts beginning on Friday at 4pm and going through Sunday until 4pm while supplies last

Miller Outdoor Theatre - FREE screening of Monsters Vs. Aliens beginning at 6:30 and 9:30 pm

Lawndale Art Center - FREE dia de los Muertos exhibits 10am-5pm

How To Vacation For Less and Get More

Let's face it, we all need to get away sometimes, and for most the "staycation" doesn't cut it. I recently got back from a 5 day, four night trip to New England with a friend and was able to do it for under $400. That included flight, hotel, food, car rental and activities. If you plan accordingly and take a few extra steps you can do things for less too.

Silver Cascade in New Hampshire's White Mountain National Forest

Step one: Sign up for the search engine Swagbucks. Using swagbucks as your search engine allows you to earn points by searching. You then bank your points and can cash out for gift cards or prizes. I cashed out for Southwest Air, Restaurant.com and Travelocity gift cards through swagbucks to use to purchase my flight, food and hotels for free or at discounted rates.

Step two: Sign up for sites such as Groupon where you can buy discounted certificates for anything under the sun, including hotels, entertainment and restaurants. When you get friends to sign up under your link you will earn a $10 Groupon credit when they make their first purchase, allowing you to buy more Groupons for free, plus your friends think you are pretty cool for filling them in on the great deals. You can get email alerts of the daily deals for any city, so if you plan on visiting a particular city, get on their list so you don't miss a deal. You can always opt out after your trip.

Step three: Search Swagbucks for coupon codes for hotels or Restaurant.com (they often have certificates for 80% off, making a $25 certificate only $2). Also look for sales. Southwest Air has a great sale ending tonight (look at yesterday's post for information on it).

Step four: Go through a site such as Ebates or Upromise that gives you cash back for on line purchases to pay for things like hotels, rental cars, Groupons or Restaurant.com certificates.Compare the two and determine which gives you more back. Check multiple sites such as Orbitz, Priceline and Kayak for the best rates on hotels, rental cars and flights...but then also go directly to the brands sites to see if it really is a great deal. Ask for specials when booking hotels or reserving cars too.

Step five: Know your credit cards rewards systems. I was able to get a $40 car rental certificate from mine in place of getting a $20 account credit. Know travel partners too. By booking with Alamo I was able to get Southwest Air Rapid Reward credits to add to the credits I was already getting by booking the flights. Once you have enough credits saved up you earn a free flight.

Step six: Save while you are there. If you are going to be driving around pick up a cheap throw away cooler and fill it with ice and snacks. That will save you from having to stop for food and drinks along the way which gets very expensive. Try and book hotels that offer free breakfast too (only if that cost is still cheaper than eating out). Scout your hotels for coupons books, most of them have them in the lobby.

Crates of Apples at a Cider Mill in Vermont
 

Great Rates on Southwest Air Travel

Southwest air is having a 72 hour sale on their flights. This makes for some very cheap travel if your dates are flexible. Remember, if you use Swagbucks they offer Southwest Air gift cards as prizes too, which makes the deal even better.

HOT Price on Taylor Swifts New Album "Speak Now"

Right now Amazon.com has Taylor Swifts latest MP3 album for only $3.99. This would normally be a $15 purchase. Get it at this price while you can since I am sure it won't last long. This will knock one more thing off of our holiday shopping list.

Foursquare - Get FREE stuff just for checking in

My daughter recently turned me on to a social network game called foursquare. 

From their site:

We're all about helping you find new ways to explore the city.

We'll help you meet up with your friends and let you earn points and unlock badges for discovering new places, doing new things and meeting new people.

There are several venues around town where you can get FREE items just by "checking in" or being the "mayor" of that venue. Free offers can change at any time. Here is a short list of freebies that we found. Please feel free to leave a comment with other venues that offer free items.

Carrabba’s- free dessert with purchase of entree when you’re the mayor

Chili’s- free chips and salsa on every check in

Ritz Camera- 5 free 4x6 prints on every check in

Amici Ristorante (sugar land town center)- free margherita pizza on your 5th check in @amicitownsquare

FYE- 10%off any CD, DVD, bluray, or video game on each checkin.

Java Jo’z (katy)- one free large beverage once a week when you are the mayor

Massage Envy- free aromatherapy upgrade for mayors

American Eagle- 15% off purchase, exp 10/31

Payless- $5 off purchase of $25 or more on first checkin exp 10/31

Express- $30 off $75 or $15 off $30. exp 10/24 limit one per customer

Office Depot- $10 off $25, excludes technology. exp 10/31

Pizza Hut- free single order of breadsticks with purchase of large pizza for the mayor. dine in and carry out orders placed at restaurant only

Sports Authority- $10 instant cash card

Burger King- check in 10 times and get a free small icee or regular fry.

Bath and Body Works- signature collection buy 3 get 2 free

Mccormick & Shmicks- Enjoy 1 free Bar Food Menu item during Happy Hour with any beverage purchase just for checking in (excluding cheeseburger)! Mayor receives 1 complimentary dinner entrée with purchase of another entrée

Fit Athletic Club- FREE Smoothie for the Mayor of Fit Athletic Club. FREE Smoothie on 12th checkin.

Renato Jewelers- Free Jewelry Cleaning (limit 2 items) Receive $5.00 off any jewelry or watch repair & jewelry polishing cloth only $1.50 after you have checked in, show your check-in screen to clerk for discount.

Coffee Groundz- Mayor gets a free LOCAL TX beer (nice!) or any medium coffee based drink every time you check in

Howl at the Moon- Show that you've checked in at the front door for free admission for 1! Show that you're mayor for a complimentary 24oz Bone Drink! (Limit 1 per visit)

Ben & Jerrys (town center)- buy one cone or cup and get one free. mayors get an extra scoop free.

Willie’s Grill & Icehouse (sugar land)- free 1/2 appetizer on each check in

Robeks- free smoothie with every 5 check ins, Mayors get a free smoothie

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Four Deals You Don't Want to Miss

FREE Scary Face pancake at IHOP on Friday, October 29th for kids 12 and under

Taco Cabana has Tac-O-Treat coupon books for $1 that contain 5 coupons for FREE bean and cheese Tacos

TGIFridays has three days of specials starting on Friday, October 29th. Friday and Saturday: FREE appetizer for anyone wearing a costume. Sunday: kids eat FREE off the kids menu when dressed in costume when an adult meal is purchased

Bass Pro Shops will have all kinds of Halloween crafts beginning on Friday at 4pm and going through Sunday until 4pm while supplies last

FREE Stuff Friday

It is my favorite day of the week again. It is the end of a long work week, but better yet, the day to find out about FREE stuff!

Walgreens - Get a FREE 8x10 collage photo through Saturday when you order online and enter the code 8X10TREAT

Men's Fitness - Get a FREE one year subscription while they last

Sephora - Get a FREE Pearl Glow primer when you download the app onto your phone and show Sephora

Urban Outfitters - Download 25 tracks from iTunes for FREE

Wal-Mart - Get a FREE sample of Crest Pro Health products when you take the quiz

How To Stockup On Spices

Kroger has the McCormick Grinders on sale until November 7th for $1, which in itself is a GREAT price. But in addition there is a catalina deal going on where if you buy three in one transaction you get a $3 catalina (in store coupon) good on your next purchase. This deal goes on until October 31st.

This is how it works: buy 3, pay $3 cash, get a $3 coupon back. Buy 3 more, pay with $3 coupon, get a $3 coupon back....and so on. When you have your stockpile of spices, use the remaining $3 coupon for other items you need.

Please note:  apparently the Lemon Pepper variety is not triggering the $3 catalina. You can still purchase this variety but will have to go to customer service to have them adjust it for you.

I have put together a short video to show you how to do it.

 

FREE Orange 'N Creme Swirl at Taco Bell

Get a FREE Orange ‘N Creme Swirl at Taco Bell with this coupon while supplies last. Valid through 11/25/10