Love my Costco card for dining out and entertainment deals

My favorite way to save at Costco is by buying gift cards.

I stocked up on Fleming's Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar gift cards the last time they offered $100 in gift cards for $80. I can't tell you how many happy hour dates we've gone on thanks to Costco.

We've bought California Pizza Kitchen, Roy's Hawaiian Fusion and Einstein Bagel gift cards, too. The restaurants rotate, so you don't always find what you want, but there's always a deal. I stretch those dollars more with coupons or using during happy hour. Who doesn't love drinks and appetizers for cheap?

I also love the discounted movie passes. It's great for when friends want to get together for a movie and dinner. I'm not big on paying more than matinee prices. So this keeps me from totally seeming cheap and saying no to the movie. I'm just dollar smart now.

Lately, I've been buying attraction tickets. I've found great deals on Universal Studios Hollywood, a local water park, ski tickets and baseball games. I'm always smiling when I use them because I don't ever pay full price. However, I will say that I do check on online deals before I buy, just to make sure I can't get the tickets from a reputable source for less.

Cheers!

Drink Coke, save on a Southwest flight

I used to throw out those My Coke Reward codes found on bottle caps and cardboard boxes. I wasn't about to waste my time on inputting codes for prizes that really didn't appeal to me. That is, they didn't appeal until I happened to see the Southwest Airlines reward. For 100 points I could get $20 off a round-trip airline ticket. I starting collecting and inputting codes. Not all of them, I'm sure. But I did it when I remembered and saved up enough points for three $20 discounts. I'm not a huge cola drinker, so it took me a while. Sorta regret not being more diligent with these point. Maybe my daughter's ticket to grandma's would have be $20 less, too.

There are blackout dates and restrictions, so do read the rules carefully. Keep a copy of the code, too. Each one issued after cashing in your points is unique, and I didn't see a way to go back and look up the code after it's issued. Maybe I didn't look in the right place. Anyway, I'm just glad I emailed the airline codes to myself. You need to put in the code at the start of your search for tickets. Once you get into the purchase, there isn't a tab to add a code. I made three separate reservations so that three of us could benefit from the discount.

The codes are good on purchase must be made through July 31, 2012, for travel through Nov. 15, 2012. Details on the My Coke Rewards Southwest Airlines $20 Discount off Wanna Get Away Fares by clicking on the link.

Joining Disney Movie Rewards for freebies

Forever ago, I joined Disney Movie Rewards. I got a free High School Musical 2 poster for my daughter's room with the points I earned on movies that we had purchased. Just punched in codes. Then I got lazy.

I didn't add codes for over a year. When I finally logged in, I learned that I had lost all my points. Luckily a kind customer service rep pitied me and I got those points back. Since then, I've been diligent. We've mostly turned in points for collectible pins. The kids started buying pins a few vacations ago. If you collect pins, you know they can be pricey, especially if few are in circulation.

There are many rewards, though, from licensed products and CDs to gift cards and experiences. But one of my favorites is cashing in points for movies, especially if they aren't readily available at stores. Disney also sometimes offers other ways to earn free movies, as it is now:

-Right now through May 31, 2012, if you activate 2 codes in one day, you get a free Blu-ray from among select titles. You just pay for shipping, which is $3.95. Limit one redemption per account.

-Also now through April 15, 2012, if you buy select movies and enter those codes, you can go see John Carter at the theater for free. Well, possibly free. You get a voucher worth up to $8 or $12, depending on the DVD or Blu-ray that you select.

So how do you earn points? Create an account on Disney Movie Rewards. It's free. You'll find select DVDs, CDs and movie tickets that you buy have points attached to them. Find out if your products have points attached by browsing through Disney's eligible titles. Many newer DVDs and CDs can be redeemed for points.

To redeem points (my short version): Typically you'll find a slip with a code inside your DVDs. You type that code once you're logged into your account. With CDs, you have to have your discs scanned via internet connection to earn points. And with movie tickets, keep your movie stubs. You'll need them to scan with an individualized code (you print this on the stub and photograph as your proof) then upload a photo for verification. Get more info on the DMR site, as Disney offers pretty detailed instructions.

CDs and movie stubs have recently earned me 50 points each, and DVDs are generally 75 to 125 points each. Just checkout the DMR site for details.

Points can add up quickly, especially if you tend to buy a lot of music and movies like we do. We just bought two Disney discs on sale to put in their Easter baskets. Getting closer to my next reward. Yay!

Cheers!

Free music downloads

It’s not a lot, but free is free.
I got all of Kelly Clarkson's "Stronger" deluxe CD and all but one song from Adele’s "21" CD for nothing thanks to a free music download site for library card holders. You get up to three downloads a week, and not all artists or songs are available. But many are. In downloading Adele's CD, I found they didn't have one of the album's songs for download. It didn't bother me. UPDDATE (2/26/12): I found the last of the Adele songs. Maybe I missed it. Maybe it just finally was added. Don't know. But now I have the entire album. Yay!
Among the other popular artists found via freegalmusic.com: P!nk, Carrie Underwood, The Fray, Hot Chelle Rae (could have saved $7.99 if I had seen it earlier) and Mumford & Sons.
Since we have four in our family, we can get a full album a week or pick and choose our favorites. We’re taking turns getting albums for now. Love it.
Check to see if your library offers this great free service.
Cheers!

Saving at restaurants by reserving a table online

I'm looking for savings wherever I go. For restaurants, I normally pick up discounted gift cards at Costco. I'm not ashamed of using coupons or the Entertainment Book discount card. Sometimes I'll go to Happy Hour to stretch my dollars. I've also signed up for email discounts and even tried racking up points for discounts at restaurants via Open Table, but it's not paid off for me. I will say that's probably because I don't use it with regularity.

Now I'm going to start booking more often online through restaurant web sites to save money.

I noticed recently a few email restaurant deals are only given if you make a reservation online. I can't remember all of the restaurants. Sorry. But the latest to offer me a online reservation deal is Fleming's Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar. Through Dec. 30, 2011, if you make a reservation online, you get a $25 dining credit, so long as you spend at least $50. There are some exceptions, so read details.

I wanted to take my mom out during her weekend visit, so I booked a table at Fleming's yesterday afternoon (Dec. 4) because my husband and I love going for the Sunday Prime Rib Dinner Special ($36.95), which includes a salad, side dish and dessert. Normally everything is a la carte, which can get expensive. The dinner is a great deal on its own, and even better with $25 off the entire bill. Our waiter did not exclude us from the online reservation deal. The savings helped me enjoy a cocktail without the guilt. Yes, I feel bad buying $12 martinis. It's insane!

Better bet I'm going to check out more restaurant sites for online reservation deals. My mouth is watering. YUM.

Avoiding peer pressure when shopping

I made a $150 mistake when I went shopping for some work clothes. And I know why I did it. I was with my mom.

She encouraged me to buy this nice gray suit jacket and matching skirt, both discounted 40 percent. I looked office ready. But ultimately, it wasn't me. I found a better suit in navy later, also with mom.

I was on a buying frenzy, supported by my mom's encouraging words. "You deserved to invest some savings on a few new outfits," or something like that. I am hunting down a new job, and need to look good during those crucial interviews. That's true.

It's not my mom's fault that I bought a suit that I really didn't want. It was mine. I gave into flattery. So I'm doing what's best for me by sending back the gray suit. I'm also shopping alone from now on. It's not that I don't love a second opinion. I do! I just know each time I go with someone else, I buy more.

I wonder if it's fear of looking like I can't afford to splurge. Don't we all try to keep up with the Joneses? When I look at some of my biggest shopping regrets, I'm out with another person. Sometimes it's mom, but usually it's a girlfriend.

Even this past weekend, I found myself buying tops that I didn't need to get my daughter because I was with a friend who was shopping with her daughter. I only spent $10, but it's $10 I wouldn't have spent if I were out on my own.

OK, it's unrealistic to think I'll always shop alone. I just need to resist any self-imposed feelings of peer pressure. Nobody can make me buy clothes or shoes. I shouldn't feel bad for saying no, even if it's on sale.

Loving library sales

So I have an addiction to buying music, but I've had to stop buying so much since losing my job. Digital downloads can be cheap, but they do add up.

Luckily I've scored a few CDs for as little as 50 cents at the library. Yes, really!

The libary branch by my house regularly puts books, CDs, DVDs and audio books on sale. I recently picked up a compilation of 60s rock classic songs, a recent Bon Jovi CD, Sarah Brightman and (blush) Robert Palmer's greatest hits. What can I say, "I'm Addicted to Love," umm, the 80s. I saw Barbara Streisand, The Platters, Adam Sandler, Beach Boys, Judy Collins, Michael Bolton, Gloria Estefan, some classical CDs, country music, etc. OK, you're not always going to score the latest hits. But you might be surprised.

I even lucked out on the Eclipse audio book for $1. The retail price on the back is listed as $57. Gulp.

Prices will vary. Typically audio books go for $3 and CDs for $1. So keep an eye out if you like bargains. And feel good about helping the library raise some money.

Cheers.