Using Time Wisely

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Olive Garden: FREE Kid’s Meal with Purchase of Adult Meal Coupon

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Olive Garden: FREE Kid’s Meal with Purchase of Adult Meal Coupon

Photograph Credit: Olive Garden

On our last visit to Olive Garden, Paul and I used a FREE kid’s meal with purchase of adult meal coupon. We included Mr. 8 and Miss 6 in our date night as we headed to a planetarium showing using our science membership.

Available again, Olive Garden has this FREE kid’s meal with purchase of adult meal coupon valid Mondays – Thursdays until September 29, 2013.

The fine print indicates a limit of one coupon per visit with a maximum of 2 FREE kids’ meals. Therefore, a family or group of 2 adults and 2 children under the age of 12 can dine at a cost of the two adult meals.

Combining Coupons and Promotions

When Paul, Mr. 8, Miss 6, and I dined, Paul and I combined our coupon with the 2 can dine for $25 promotion. That promotion provided an appetizer or dessert along with 2 adult entrees, unlimited breadsticks, and our choice of soup or salad. Mr. 8, Miss 6, and I ordered the salad while Paul chose the minestrone soup. 😉

Though the 2 can dine for $25 promotion may not be active at this time, the NeverEnding Pasta Bowl promotion for $9.99 is currently available. So, if both adults order the NeverEnding Pasta Bowl, then 2 can dine for $20 and 2 children under age 12 get a FREE kid’s meal.

By combining a coupon, promotion, and our science membership, our group of 4 received dinner and entertainment for less than $10 per person for the evening.

Sharing Coupons and Promotions

In stretching our dollars, we challenge ourselves to see how much fun we can have spending the least amount of cash. With our game, we do not lie, steal, or cheat. We pay for parking, tips, and fees when appropriate.

Getting in on the fun, our children like to know how much we save verses how much we spend. Mr. 8 is great at figuring out how much we would have had to spend if we had not used a coupon or promotion. Realizing the importance of using money wisely, Mr. 8 often asks to present the coupon as his part of helping to save.

In stretching your dollars, bring your children along on your quests to save money. They will one day have their own accounts and realize the value of their earnings. Sharing your savings strategies will prepare them for when they are on their own. Happy teaching and stretching!

Question: When you have a choice, do you prefer a salad or a soup?

2013: Black Friday Store Hours

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2013: Black Friday Store Hours

Photograph Credit: iCLIPART

Not sure what to call this season anymore as Black Friday has expanded to include a few days on either side of the Friday after Thanksgiving.

Some stores are calling their event the After Thanksgiving Sale, but their on-line sale starts before Thanksgiving. *Hmm.* Since I am unaware of a new term given to this event, I will stick to Black Friday.

If you are interested in this craze of great deals which will save you lots of money when you time it right, then plan what you want to purchase, check your timing, and hunt for your favorites. The lines to some stores begin weeks, days, and hours prior to these sales.

To plan accordingly, here are the Black Friday Store Hours arranged by the time the stores open their sales.

Thursday, November 28

6:00 a.m.

 5:00 p.m.

6:00 p.m.

7:00 p.m.

8:00 p.m.

Friday

5:00 a.m.

6:00 a.m.

    • Home Depot (normal business hours)

8:00 a.m.

If you head out, be careful. Yes, the deals are great, but fighting, pushing, and trampling is not a way to using time wisely. Most stores are organized making this a time of fun, and I wish you lots of savings as you venture out, stretch your dollars, and use your time wisely. Happy shopping!

Question: Will you head out to the stores for Black Friday deals?

American Express: Small Business Saturday – November 30, 2013

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American Express: Small Business Saturday – November 30, 2013

Photograph Credit: Shop Small

In the midst of shopping season and wedged between Black Friday and Cyber Monday lands Small Business Saturday.

American Express sponsors Shop Small to support small businesses.

To encourage support, American Express will give their cardholders the opportunity to receive a $10 credit on their next statement.

American Express has embraced Small Business Saturday and encourages consumers to support these businesses on November 30, 2013.

Per American Express’ website:

Enroll your eligible American Express® Card to GET $10 BACK WHEN YOU SPEND $10 OR MORE at a qualifying small business location on November 30, 2013.

How it works:

1. Register any eligible American Express® Card until 11:59 p.m. MST on November 30, 2013, unless the registration limit is reached sooner.

2. Use your registered Card on November 30, 2013 to spend $10 or more in a single, in-store transaction at a qualifying small business location. Online transactions do not qualify. To view qualifying small business locations that appear on the Small Business Saturday® Map, visit ShopSmall.com.

3. Get a one-time $10 statement credit for that transaction from American Express® within 90 days.

In using time wisely and stretching your dollars, enroll your American Express card before heading out to your favorite small business on Saturday, November 30, 2013. Happy savings!

Question: Will you participate in Small Business Saturday?

Walgreens: FREE 8×10 Photo Enlargement

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Walgreens: FREE 8x10 Photo Enlargement

Photograph Credit: Walgreens

Walgreens is offering a FREE 8×10 photo enlargement on any single photograph.

You will need to login or sign up for a FREE Walgreen’s account, upload your photograph, and checkout.

At checkout, enter promotional code TURKEY8X10, choose store pickup, and place your order.

This FREE offer is valid through Saturday, November 30, 2013 with a limit of one FREE enlargement per account. The order must be placed by midnight, but you may pick up your enlargement when you are by your selected Walgreens this weekend or early next week.

We use these FREE offers as Christmas gifts for the grandparents. Our parents love having updated pictures of their grandchildren, so using these FREE offers allows us to add another gift while stretching our dollars. Thank you, Walgreens, and happy savings!

Question: How do you use these FREE photo offers?

Redbox: FREE Movie Rentals

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Redbox: FREE Movie Rentals

Photograph Credit: Redbox

While in the recovery lull after the visiting and playing at Thanksgiving and transitioning from one holiday to the next, our family is ready for a movie night. Though we have Netflix for streaming and movie rentals, we sometimes desire a new-movie rental without the wait.

With conveniently located kiosks, we turn to Redbox. We wait for a FREE promotional code and then choose a time that works for us. Right now, there are at least 3 promotional codes for a FREE one-night movie rental at the kiosk only (not on Redbox.com):

43ZJW74M – valid through Sunday, 12/1

9MXW4LPC – valid through Thursday, 12/5

NW2PCLP3 – not sure of expiration date

If you want to rent 3 movies at the same time, you can use the same credit card (which will not be charged unless you do not return the movie by 9:00 p.m. the next night). However, you will need to process 3 transactions using one code per transaction.

To Rent from a Redbox Kiosk

  1. On the main screen, touch RENT A MOVIE or RENT A GAME.
  2. Browse through titles and touch any movie to learn more about it.
  3. Ready to rent it? Press ADD TO CART.
  4. Follow the same process to add more movies to the cart.
  5. Press CHECK OUT.
  6. To pay, follow the instructions to swipe a credit or debit card and press CONTINUE.
  7. Consumers will be asked for an email address so that Redbox can send a rental receipt. After typing in an email address using the touch screen keyboard, press CONTINUE.
  8. Grab the rentals and go!

How to Return a Redbox Rental

  1. On the main touch screen, press RETURN.
  2. Follow the on-screen instructions and place the disc case in the slot.
  3. Once the Redbox kiosk verifies the disc was inserted properly, the return process is complete.

For more FREE Redbox rental codes, signup on their e-mail list and refer friends. Enjoy your FREE movie rentals and keep stretching your dollars by returning your movies by the 9:00 p.m. deadline. Happy relaxing!

Question: How do you prefer to get your movie fix?