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!