|
|
Saving some bucks can be a thrill and also a big boost to the bottom line. But did you know that a little bit of math could help you save even more? Take a look:
For the Day or the Year?
Your four kids have been clamoring to see the baby seals at the local aquarium all summer long. But dang! Those tickets are pricey! You spot an online deal: 10% off each child’s ticket. Can you do better?
Here’s where looking at an annual membership might be a better deal. Let’s look at the numbers. If an adult ticket is $25 and a kids ticket is normally $20, you’d pay $25 + $20 + $20 + $20 + $20 or $105 normally. With the discount, each child’s ticket will be $20 – $2 or $18. That brings your total down to $97. But if a family membership costs $75, you’ve saved cash without the reduced ticket price.
Fly Me to the Moon—with My Luggage, Please
You found a great deal on plane tickets online, but is the best deal? To find out, check the additional fees.
Most airlines today are charging for each bag of checked luggage. So, if your discounted ticket costs $250, but you need to check two bags (at $20 to $25 each), you could be paying up to $300 for the ticket, not including airport taxes and security fees. Another airline, without checked bag fees, could cost you less in the long run.
BOGO May Be a No-Go
By one, get one (BOGO) is always a good deal, right? Not so fast. You’ve found an online coupon for orange juice. If you buy a 64-oz container, you can get a second one at half the price. Take a look at the other options when you get the store – before you buy.
At your local Piggly Wiggly, you notice that the BOGO orange juice is $3.48. But there’s another brand on sale for $5.53 per 128-oz container. First off, the second brand is twice as large as the first. So, whether you use your coupon or not, you’re getting the same amount of juice. But how much would you pay, if you use the coupon? Half of $3.48 is $1.74. (Use a calculator, if you want!) And $3.48 + $1.74 is $5.22. Turns out, BOGO is the better deal.
You may not want to do any math, but if you’re looking for the best deal, a few calculations—and some creative thinking and common sense—can mean the difference between saving and spending.
Laura Laing is the author of Math for Grownups, a funny, easy-to-understand and practical guide to the ways we use math in everyday life. She blogs at www.mathforgrownups.com.
Planning on a movie for Christmas week? Check out these steals and deals at Seattle area theaters.
- AMC Pacific Place is showing several family movies: Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked (G), The Muppets (PG), The Adventures of Tintin (PG), and Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows (PG-13). First show of the day (11:25-11:30 a.m.) is just $6, a $3 discount off the regular price. Make it an afternoon of fun; check out the dining offers, like free offers, discounts, and happy hour prices at Pacific Place eateries.
- Northwest Film Forum offers a free movie pass for two when you join, renew or purchase a gift membership. Purchase a membership during December 2011 and you’ll receive a free “Admit-2″ movie pass and a coupon for free popcorn (at $25 value!).
- Grand Illusion is showing “It’s A Wonderful Life” through Christmas Day. Regular tickets are $8. Or buy a $30 membership, and get $3 off your ticket price for an entire year. The Grand Illusion Cinema is a non-profit volunteer run theater and Seattle’s oldest continuously running theater. Help support this cinematic treasure by becoming a member or volunteering your time.
- Central Cinema features E.T. the Extra Terrestrial December 26-31. Save $2 when you purchase advance tickets (at least 24 Hours before the show tix are just $6.00. Day-of-show general admission: $8.00 ).
- Always $3 and always worthwhile, Crest Cinema Centre in north Seattle is featuring Puss in Boots (PG) and the sci-fi thriller In Time (PG-13), plus several other indie and foreign films.
After-Thanksgiving Weekend Sale featuring Midnight Madness at area Outlet Malls, Friday through Sunday. Don’t miss the biggest sale of the year. Enjoy exceptional holiday savings and extended shopping hours.*
Regular Hours Mon-Sat: 10am-9pm, Sun: 10am-7pm
- Thanksgiving Eve (Wednesday), 10am-6pm
- Closed Thanksgiving Day
After-Thanksgiving Weekend Sale featuring Midnight Madness
- Friday: Midnight-10pm
- Saturday: 8am-10pm
- Sunday: 9am-8pm
Holiday Hours
- Through December 23: Mon-Sat: 9am-9pm, Sun: 10am-7pm
- Christmas Eve: 9am-6pm
- Closed Christmas Day
After-Holiday Sales: Dec 26 – Jan 1
- December 26: 7am-9pm
- December 27-30: 9am-9pm
- New Year’s Eve, December 31: 9am-6pm
- New Year’s Day, January 1: 10am-7pm
Seattle Premium Outlets, 10600 Quil Ceda Blvd., Tulalip, WA 98271. (360) 654-3000.
Factory Stores at North Bend, 461 South Fork Avenue SW, North Bend, WA 98045. (425) 888-4505.
The Seattle Goodwill most anticipated event, the Glitter Sale happens every fall at the Dearborn Street store, 1400 South Lane St., Seattle, WA 98144. Google map.
- 2001 Glitter Sale: Saturday & Sunday, November 12-13 from 9 a.m. – 6 p.m
The Goodwill Gliter sale features loads of the most glamorous Goodwill bargains, merchandise that has been collected year-round just for the Glitter sale. Featured are gowns, formalwear, jewelry, evening shoes, and handbags…and much more. Since 1983, the south Seattle store near the corner of Rainer Avenue on Dearborn Street has become Goodwill’s most anticipated and popular event. Proceeds from the sale support Goodwill’s mission to change people’s lives by enabling them to find employment. Goodwill provides free job training and education programs to help people with barriers to employment get the skills and support they need to achieve economic self-sufficiency through work.
Black Friday is the day after Thanksgiving and the official start to the holiday shopping season. It is the largest shopping day of the year. Retailers typically offer their lowest prices of the year. The name “Black Friday” comes from it being the first day that retailers started making a profit – known as “being in the black.” There are great deals offered on Black Friday, both online and in-store; some items are only available in limited numbers in-store only. Some people camp out at stores more than a day in advance to ensure they get certain deals. Black Friday 2011 falls on November 26.
- Use the search feature on Black Friday 2011 to find the cheapest price for an item throughout all stores, create a shopping list and plan your Black Friday shopping experience a week or two in advance.
- Sign up for a free subscription on the homepage https://www.bfads.net that allows you to receive email updates, keeping you up-to-date with any new ads and deals without the hassle of constantly checking back in search of new postings.
Cyber Monday is the Monday after Thanksgiving. It has recently become a popular online shopping day, with retailers offering large discounts much like they do on Black Friday. While these prices are generally not as discounted as those on Black Friday, they are still some of the best deals of the holiday season.
Seattle Restaurant Week is Greater Seattle’s largest dining celebration! eattle Restaurant Week is a ten day promotion held twice annually in April and October. No passes, tickets or coupons are required. Diners simply visit their favorite participating restaurants throughout the 10 days to enjoy the special prix fixe menus. It is strongly recommended that diners make reservations in advance. To make a lunch or dinner reservation, please contact the restaurants directly. Please see the current Seattle Restaurant Week list.
Seattle Restaurant Week is a celebration of food that spreads across King County, inviting people to dine for a deal in nearly every Seattle and Eastside neighborhood. The dining celebration features 150 restaurants offering a three-course menu for $28; some also offering a three-course lunch for $15 (Sunday through Thursday only; excluding Friday and Saturday).
Seattle Restaurant Week is operated by the Seattle Restaurant Cooperative, a non-profit association of local restaurateurs united to represent local area restaurants. Restaurant Week is executed with the seattletimes.com, which lends its expertise of the local consumer landscape and years of managing restaurant promotions.
Find Restaurant week on Facebook and Twitter
Don’t miss the annual Columbus Day Weekend Sale at area Outlet Malls. Enjoy extra savings on top of every day savings. Regular Hours Mon-Sat: 10am-9pm, Sun: 10am-7pm. July 4th Summer Sale: Thu-Mon from 10am-9pm
Arts Crush is a month-long festival that features hundreds of free events, special discounts and once-a-year interactive arts opportunities for all ages, 31 days of creative adventures in art, literature, music, theatre, dance, film and more! Art Crush is presented by Theatre Puget Sound in cooperation with other community arts leaders.
- Date Night! Get two-for-one tickets or admission to specific events on Tuesdays and Fridays throughout the month. Check Date Night for specific details.
- Attend Kids Crush, special activities, workshops and performances aimed at engaging youth and families. Whether you’ve got toddlers, tweens or teens, you’re certain to find something to spark their creativity
- Find one-of-a-kind FREE events! Arts Crush pulls back the curtain with special performances, interactive events, open rehearsals, public parties, readings, workshops, meet-the-artist events, community art projects, site-specific works, and much more.
Fremont Oktoberfest is Seattle’s Fall Tradition in the “Center of the Universe” Fremont, Washington. Voted by USA Today and Orbitz.com as one of the top places to toast Oktoberfest, this three-day festival features a Tasting Garden, live music, Kids Area, a 5K Run, and plenty of other activities. The festival runs September 23-25, 2011. Save $5 when you purchase tickets online or at one of the advance ticket outlets in Seattle, Bellevue, and Federal Way.
Tickets
- $20ADV/$25DOOR general admission ticket, includes a 5 oz. commemorative glass and five beer/wine tasting tokens.
- $15 Non-Drinking admission available at the door, includes four tickets good for water or soda redeemable at the Hop Stop booth.
Arts Crush is a month-long festival that features hundreds of free events, special discounts and once-a-year interactive arts opportunities for all ages, 31 days of creative adventures in art, literature, music, theatre, dance, film and more! Art Crush is presented by Theatre Puget Sound in cooperation with other community arts leaders.
Enter-to-Win Free Theater Tickets through September 16-29 for up to FIVE free pairs of tickets to arts events throughout the Puget Sound region!
|
|