Tax day giveaways and promotions
Filing your taxes is not usually a reason to celebrate, but some companies are at least trying to make this unpleasant annual task a little more palatable. Below are just a few of the Tax promotions you might be able to take advantage of:
HOTELS
BnBFinder.com – At BnBFinder.com you can find many tax specials at the inn. For example, at at Mason Cottage in Cape May, New Jersey, guests can receive 25% off one night before April 15th with a minimum of a three night stay.
Or at Inn at Riverbend in Pearisburg, VA, guests can check in on April 15 and stay 2 nights and receive a refund of $100 for the total stay.
Visit BnBFinder to search all properties participating in the Tax Day specials.
Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants – Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants is offering a national “Sweet Tax Relief” package, available at most Kimpton hotels for the entire month of April. As part of the package, guests enjoy:
*Deluxe overnight accommodations
*Kimpton will pay your room tax
*Kimpton will pay the tax on a meal at one of the locally flavored, chef-driven restaurants, located adjacent to most hotels*
*Sweet rewards with treats such as “Payday,” “100 Grand” and “Sugar Daddy” candy bars
*Late check out, when available, so you can enjoy your tax-free accommodations to their fullest
Package rates start at $99/night, although rates vary by hotel and city. Reservations may be made online by entering “PTAX” in the rate code box, or by calling 1-800-KIMPTON and requesting the “Sweet Tax Relief” package.
SPAS
Aji Spa at the Sheraton Wild Horse Pass Resort & Spa – According to the resort, Aji Spa at the Sheraton Wild Horse Pass Resort has the economic antidote for your tax season blues. Book a 50-minute Aji Massage and receive a complimentary upgrade to an 80-minute treatment. This offer is available April 1-30, 2009, Monday through Thursday only. Please mention promotional code “RELIEF” at the time of booking to receive the upgrade.
The Spa at Four Seasons Hotel Austin – Here’s a tax “break” everyone can take advantage of: 25% off massages, facials, body treatments and nail services in The Spa at Four Seasons Hotel Austin. Available April 13-17, 2009, The Spa’s Tax Break special is not valid on product or gift card purchases and may not be combined with any other promotion, coupon or discount. For more details or to make an appointment, call 512-685-8160.
FOOD
Cinnabon – Participating U.S. mall-based Cinnabon bakeries will be giving away free Classic Bites on April 15 from 5 to 8pm.*
* While supplies last. Limit one offer per guest during the day of the promotion. Counts vary by store. Valid only at participating U.S. mall-based bakeries. Not valid at airports or travel plazas. No purchase necessary. No cash value.
Taco Del Mar – Receive a free taco on April 15, 2009. To receive your coupon by email, visit this website.
Maggie Moo’s – Calling it an “e-CONE-omic” (groan) incentive, this ice cream chain plans to dole out free single scoops nationwide on April 15, 2009.
Enjoy, and with all the freebies and deals, don’t forget to file your taxes by 11:59pm on April 15!
Filed under Deals | Comment (0)Free movie rental from redbox
I always thought it was weird when I’d see people at those redbox movie rental kiosks in front of Walgreens or McDonalds. For whatever reason, picking a movie from a vending machine-like contraption seemed odd. Maybe I’d just been conditioned by Blockbuster to think renting a movie had to involve walking down endless aisles and ogling check-out displays filled with candy and popcorn.
But after my first redbox rental experience, I can honestly say I won’t ever miss the brick-and-mortar rental store again (okay, maybe I’ll miss the candy and popcorn).
I decided to try out redbox when I found a free rental coupon code on Monday via another blog I read. The entire experience was super-easy and although I ended up hating the movie and feeling like I’d wasted two hours of my life, that didn’t dampen my newfound affection for redbox.
[For the curious, the movie was Rachel Getting Married, starring Anne Hathaway. I should have known when it was nominated for an Oscar that it would be one of those artsy movies not typically enjoyed by the general public.]
Anyway, here are a few of my favorite things about redbox:
1) It’s convenient – there are more than 12,000 redbox locations, including one literally right down the street at my local Walgreens.
2) It’s easy – I was able to search online for available inventory at my selected redbox location so the rental process literally took less than 2 minutes. You can even reserve titles online.
3) It’s current – Most of the movies have just been released so unlike some discount movie rental companies, you’re not limited to the “unwanted” movies that have been out for weeks.
4) It’s cheap – as mentioned above, my rental was free thanks to a coupon code, but even if you don’t have one of these the total cost is $1 per night – with generous terms that allow you to return the DVD by 9pm the next night. That said, there seem to be an inordinate amount of free coupon code days (for example, today’s is MMM325) so do a search online and you might get lucky.
5) They have a blog – gotta love a company that embraces social media. Also, this is where they’re rumored to post a free coupon code every Wednesday.
6) It makes random acts of kindness easy to do – After renting my free movie on Monday, I turned around and a woman was just walking up to rent her own movie. Don’t hate me redbox, but I handed her my Post-it note with the coupon code and made her day.
So why not try it out tonight for free? I promise you’ll never think those people are weird again…at least not related to their movie rental preferences.
Filed under Deals, Saving Ideas | Comment (0)Can you say Spaaah? Book now for Spa Week
Stressed out about the economy? Pamper yourself on the cheap during the bi-annual Spa Week sponsored by Allure magazine. Here’s the deal:
Between April 13 and 19, 2009, approximately 700 day spas around the country will offer two to three different treatments – usually $100 to $200 – for just $50 each.
Confession: I’ve scheduled both a 50-minute facial and a 50-minute massage, but the bonus is the place I selected is also a wellness center so included in those prices is access to a variety of yoga classes, life enhancement lectures, all the spa facilities, hiking trails, etc.
While it’s cheaper than usual, it’s still a bit of a splurge but I refuse to feel guilty because:
a) Lent will be over by then so I’ll have reached my guilt quota for the year,
b) I plan to cut back on other expenses throughout the month so that I still fall within my budget, and
c) after the March I’ve had, $135 (which includes a 15% tip on the regular price of the services) is well worth the body, health and mind benefits.
Anyway, Spa Week started in New York in 2004 and is the brainchild of Cheryl Reid, owner of Spa Week Media Group Ltd. The goal was to introduce a new generation of consumers to the many benefits of a healthy spa lifestyle. And new in 2009, many spas are following the “green” trend by offering organic, detoxifying and vitamin-enriched treatments.
Spaces book up quickly, so make an appointment soon if you’re interested in taking advantage of this offer. For more information and to search for participating spas, visit www.spaweek.com.
Filed under Deals, Finances | Comment (0)All this for just $4.99?!?
Sometimes I manage to amaze myself when it comes to saving, and last week’s shopping extravaganza at Walgreens might just be my most impressive yet.
But before I tell you about the amazing deals I managed to score, I first want to apologize for being MIA this week. Work has been super busy and I finally flew back home this morning after traveling all over Texas. I’m actually headed to San Antonio this weekend so it’s not all over, but things seem to be winding down at least.
Okay, back to Walgreens. Last weekend, I practically devoured the newly launched EasySaver booklet and the deals in the Sunday newspaper. I’m weird, reading the circulars and coupons with a Starbucks caramel macchiato is my idea of an ideal Sunday morning.
I’ve been going to Walgreens now for about six months and I finally feel like I’ve got a handle on the EasySaver rebates and coupons, Register Rewards and Walgreens coupon and how everything can be combined for even more savings.
After reading the circulars and combing through my coupon files, here is what I was able to get for a grand total of $4.99:
Sunday:
-Bought 6 oz. Colgate Max White for $3.29 (received $3.50 in Register Rewards, which are basically like a gift certificate or credit that can be applied to a future purchase)
-Bought Memory Formula 45 Soft Gels for $19.99 (eligible for a $19.99 EasySaver rebate so FREE)
-Bought Walgreens Extra Strength Headache QuickGels for $2.99 (eligible for a $2.99 EasySaver rebate so FREE)
TOTAL SPENT: $26.27
EXPECTED REBATES: $22.98
Tuesday:
-Wal-Zyr 24-hr. Allergy Relief tablets for $3.99 (eligible for a $3.99 EasySaver rebate so FREE)
-Pantene shampoo for $2.99 (on sale for $2.99 + coupon for $1 off two Pantene products + $3 EasySaver rebate on two Pantene products)
-Pantene conditioner for $2.99 (plus rebates/coupons mentioned above)
-Vaseline Intensive Care cocoa butter lotion for $4.11 (25% off regular price of $5.49 + $1.25 coupon + $2 Register Rewards
TOTAL SPENT: $8.69 after subtracting the $3.50 Register Rewards
EXPECTED REBATE: $6.99
Wednesday:
-2 boxes of Barilla pasta for $2 (FREE after using the Register Rewards from the Vaseline Intensive Care)
TOTAL SPENT: $0
So to recap, I got 9 items for $4.99 after all the rebates. Dang, I’m good :-) And you can be this good too if you hurry since most of these deals are valid through Saturday, March 7…
Filed under Deals, Finances, Saving Ideas | Comment (0)More free breakfast this week
Are you ready for the Breakfast Wars of 2009? Following on the heels of Denny’s free Grand Slam breakfast offer last week, Chick-fil-a is offering one free breakfast item each day this week between 6:30 and 10:30am at participating stores (excludes dining halls and schools).
Here’s what they’re giving away free at my local store, although it seems the free items vary by location:
Monday – Chicken Biscuit
Tuesday – Chick-n-Minis
Wednesday – Sausage Biscuit
Thursday – Chicken Biscuit
Friday – Chick-n-Minis
Saturday – Sausage Biscuit
I’m actually kind-of bummed because a few stores in other states are giving away Cinnamon Clusters, which look divine! Although not divine enough to make the trek to another state…
From what I can tell, Chick-fil-a locations in Texas, Florida, South Carolina, Alabama and Ohio are participating in some form or another. Apologies to the rest of the country world (can’t forget my Canadian/other international readers), but I’ll be sure to have an extra Chick-n-Mini for you. :-)
Even if you are located in these states, I’d recommend calling your local Chick-fil-a before you make the trip since items vary and it seems a limited number of stores are participating for the entire week.
Filed under Deals, Food/Wine, Saving Ideas | Comment (0)