Atlanta Bargain Hunter

Are you still looking for places to take visiting relatives?

Gallop to the indoor (read: air-conditioned) arena at Medieval Times Dinner & Tournament with this discount from DealSwarm. The 11th century show features a hardy dinner (vegetarian options available) while you hoot ‘n’ holler for your favorite knights as they compete in the Battle of Champions for the heart of a princess. The louder you are, the more fun it becomes.

This week, you can print a voucher to buy one, get one free for any show this summer. The best part is, you don’t have to pay any money up front — you pay the BOGO price when you show up to the castle. The deal is valid through September, so go ahead and secure one now if you think you might use it later. Plus, you can purchase up to six vouchers for twelve people.

5900 Sugarloaf Parkway, Lawrenceville. 888-935-6878.

– By Lauren Davidson, Atlanta Bargain Hunter

Tweet

Follow me on Facebook | Twitter | Email

Continue reading Family: BOGO Medieval Times »

You might be able to overlook your potato chips, cookies or bagged carrots showing up in smaller packaging at the grocery store, but you can’t ignore your receipts.

In May, a “thrifty” family of four spent an average of $612.70 on food prepared at home, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. That’s an increase of 4.6 percent over last year.

But the thrifty family’s monthly grocery bill pales compared to the $1,209.20 spent last month by families on a “liberal” budget, the USDA says. That’s an increase of 4.4 percent from 2010.

And you’ll continue to pay more for groceries this year — mostly, the USDA says, because of rising energy and agricultural prices and increased demand for food around the world.

Even couponers are feeling the pinch. Michelle Atwood, who runs the shopping website IheartPublix.com, says big coupons, like 50 cents off one product (which could double to $1) are becoming more scarce.

“Now we’re looking at 45 cents off three,” Atwood says. “I used …

Continue reading Shop smarter in the grocery store »

A quick viewing of this video on WSB made me a little jealous this morning.

The video depicts a barcode scanner gun being used at Stop & Shop, a northeastern grocery chain, to determine prices on goods in the store for customers. Additionally, the scanner finds coupons available for each product. Customers can actually bag their own groceries as they walk through the store, hand the scanner and store card to the cashier and checkout — without having to unload their groceries from the cart.

This appeals to me because I like to be efficient in the grocery store, but I have some questions:

• The video says people end up spending 10 percent more, so are the coupons really worth it?
• If you have manufacturer’s coupons, can you scan those at the register as well?
• Do people actually spend less time in the store or more?

It was only a matter of time before self-checkout spread to most grocers in the South, so I wonder if this technology will make its way toward us, too.

Would you use a …

Continue reading Would you ‘Scan It?’ »

Certified financial planner Wes Moss provides personal finance advice and accessible investment strategies. His guest post appears here Monday mornings.

The stock market is a giant roller coaster, and we are currently white-knuckling through a series of crazy twists, turns, plunges and loops. As I write this, the Dow Jones industrial average has been down for seven of the last eight weeks, and that one “up” week was just a hair above break-even. That’s why your 401k and IRA are feeling a bit queasy.

This wild ride is powered by what I call the  Dirty Dozen of economic factors. They’ve been driving the market since the beginning of May and have been especially vengeful in June. The worst offenders:

• Europe’s continued debt crisis –- specifically Greece and fear that its problems will cause financial trouble in other countries.
• Stubbornly high unemployment rates
• The economic “soft patch,” or slowdown, in the U.S.
• Fear of a further stock market pullback
• Continued weakness …

Continue reading Is the stock market driving you insane? »

You can only watch so many movies at home before the kids (and you) are raring to leave the house.

A fun, air-conditioned option for kids is taking place this summer in bowling alleys across the country — the Kids Bowl Free program. The program allows children (whose ages do not exceed the limit by each participating bowling center) to bowl two free games a day. Participating bowling centers in metro Atlanta include Decatur and Stockbridge. Visit Kids Bowl Free for more details.

More free bowling

• The 300 Kids Club Card at 300 Atlanta Bowling allows kids under 12 one free game and shoe rental a day Sunday through Friday this season. Card is valid before 5 p.m. each day through Sept. 4. 2175 Savoy Dr., Atlanta. 770-451-8605.

• AMF Bowling (Conyers, Marietta, Snellville) is offering two free games a day for kids under 16. Just register for the AMF Summer Unplugged program to receive your coupons by email.

Now the real question is: bumpers or no bumpers?

– By Lauren Davidson,

Continue reading Family: Free bowling for kids this summer »

This spring, I picked up some CDs at yard sales for $1. With singles selling for 99 cents or more on iTunes, all it takes is a couple of good songs per album to make CD resale a deal for buyers. And after uploading the music to my computer, I can even resell the CD at my next garage sale. (Editor’s note: OK, don’t actually do this last part, or the police and the blog commenters will hunt you down.)

But it goes beyond resale. Some people have other motives for buying music — new music — in CD form. Peter Kafka from All Things Digital shares his thoughts on why that might be:

My hunch is that, increasingly, the people who are buying music in physical form are divided into two groups. There are the people buying it as an afterthought along with gum and other impulse buys stacked near the cash register. And there are the people buying it because they really like stuff — physical, tactile stuff — which might be as important as the music itself.

He also notes that half of Lady …

Continue reading Are you still buying CDs? »

Save on a mani/pedi

Sugarcoat: The nail salon has a special deal for new clients — receive a free personalized pouch of non-metal manicure and pedicure items. This includes nail files, buffers, toe separators, birchwood sticks and pumice stones. Plus, Jessica Shops readers receive a VIP discount at the new Sugarcoat location in Virginia Highland. Book an Essential Manicure and Pedicure and receive half off the full price of $45 (gratuity not included). Sugarcoat also is giving Jessica Shops readers half off an organic spray tan, which normally sells for $35. Sugarcoat, 1062 St. Charles Ave. NE, Atlanta; 404-249-0013.

Update your 
summer shoes

Chinese Laundry: Summer is here, which means it’s the perfect time to update your shoe collection. Visit the website for stylish summer sandals in innovative fabrics and leathers. Plus, use coupon code CL15REG323 to get 15 percent off (expires June 30).

A thrifty discount

Doubletake: Local thrifter Daniel Troppy hunts for recycled …

Continue reading Jessica Shops: Half off mani/pedi, shoe discount »

Food items compete with grocery store sales

Coffee: Starbucks coffee (12-ounce bag) is on sale for $6.49 at Walgreens. Use the $1.50 Starbucks coupon from the April 17 SmartSource circular to pay only $4.99, which is a bargain for coffee connoisseurs.

Deli meat: On sale for $2.50 each, you’ll pay only $2 for the 9-ounce package of Oscar Mayer Deli Fresh Shaved Lunchmeat when you use the May 15 SmartSource coupon for $1 off two at Walgreens.

Extra Bucks net 
free styling gel

Styling gel: Get Dep or L.A. Looks (12-20 ounce) styling gels on sale for $2.99 at CVS. Pay $1.99 on the L.A. Looks 20-ounce variety with a $1 coupon from the May 15 SmartSource circular, and get a $2 Extra Bucks reward at the register. Your net cost will be free with a one-cent profit. Limit one deal.

Power up for free

PowerBar products: Get PowerBar Energy or Protein Bites (2.6- to 3-ounce packages) on sale for $2.49 at CVS. You will get a $2.49 Extra Bucks reward at the register, so your net cost will be …

Continue reading Coupon Mom: Discount Starbucks, free PowerBar products »

Consumer expert Clark Howard’s column appears here each Thursday in conjunction with Deal Spotter, a weekly print section in The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

The other day, my wife went to a specialty electronics retailer to get some equipment that I use when I broadcast the show from my home. As she’s checking out, the salesman asks her how long of a term of extended warranty she wanted on the equipment. (Not if she wants one, but what length of term she wants!)

The salesperson continued, “Clark Howard buys extended warranties. He came in recently and bought a pair of headphones and took the warranty on them.” So my wife said, “Oh, he did, huh?”

Next the man wanted to show her a bogus bill of sale for me reflecting a purchased extended warranty. The guy had no idea he was speaking to my wife! I really wish she would have asked to see it, but she declined and the whole issue was dropped.

My position on extended warranties remains the same. I don’t like them and I don’t buy …

Continue reading Clark Howard: I’ll never buy a product’s extended warranty »

Two of your favorite brands have come together to give you more options for your baby — plus an extra $10 off in coupons.

Gerber Childrenswear announced this month the appearance of its Gerber Brand essentials for baby in select Old Navy stores across the United States. The line includes Gerber Onesies one piece underwear and sleep ‘n’ play one-pieces, with sizes ranging from birth to 24 months and all priced at less than $15.

To celebrate the launch, members of the Gerber Childrenswear’s Real Mom Community will receive a limited time offer to save up to $10 on Gerber purchases made at Old Navy stores. You’ll get $3 off any purchase of a Gerber Onesie and $7 off any purchase of $25 or more on Gerber apparel. Simply register to download the coupons. Offers expire June 30.

– By Lauren Davidson, Atlanta Bargain Hunter

Tweet

Follow me on Facebook | Twitter | Email

Continue reading $10 off Gerber Brand baby clothes »