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Thursday, June 28, 2007

Costco & High-end Goods

For those who still aren't Costco members, you're missing out on a great means to live well and on the cheap. It's a common misconception that you have to buy in bulk in order to enjoy the benefits of a warehouse membership like Costco. Even as a single person, one's savings can be huge shopping at Costco, not to mention the excellent service, quality of products and unbeatable return policy.

Tip#1 Seafood
Costco is one of THE best places to purchase giant scallops $8.99/lb, fresh clams $2.50/lb, fresh mussels $1.99/lb, giant tiger prawns $9.99/lb, jumbo king crab legs $8.99/lb and fresh wild sockeye salmon or ahi tuna for $9.99/lb. You'd easily pay 1.5 to 2x's the cost at places like Whole Foods and Central Market for the same quality. The quality at your local market often won't match the freshness at Costco or price.

Tip#2 Luxury Goods
Aside from a small selection at the stores, there is a HUGE selection online of luxury goods such as jewelry & diamonds, designer handbags, watches, pens and gourmet foods. Shipping is often included, the items are fully refund-able at the brick&mortar stores AND even includes the shipping.

Tip#3 Tires
C'mon, everyone needs tires. Costco often runs a biannual promotion where one can save $60-80 on a set of Michelin or Goodyear tires. Any tires Costco installs comes with FREE tire rotations, free fill-ups with nitrogen (maximizes fuel efficiency/gas mileage, handling and tire life, stays inflated longer and prevents corrosion and rust) and a graduated replacement policy for tires which become damaged due to road hazards. You can't beat the service.

Tip#4 Furniture & Electronics
Expensive furniture, high-end matresses, game systems, LCD monitors, IPODs, computers, pianos, fridges, and plasma or LCD TV's on the cheap. Plus they have a great return policy (better than most stores) on electronics. Available for order online as well. Want a greenhouse, gazebo or even a casket (yes, a casket)... you'll be able to find 'em online.

Tip#5 Pharmaceuticals
THE best prices on name brand and generic over-the-counter meds, contact solutions and other things you'd find in a pharmacy, granted you might end up with 500 tablets of acetaminophen, but who doesn't need Tylenol all the time?

Tip#6 Signup as an Executive Member
You'll get an annual 2% cashback on the year's purchases. The money you make back will more than offset the cost and make it a better bargain than your non-cashback earning regular membership.

Tip#7 Signup for the Costco-branded American Express card
Costco only takes cash, debit and American Express. Why anyone doesn't already try to use their AMEX exclusively for some of the best credit card benefits around, I'll never know... BUT this AMEX comes with a few other exclusives such as no annual fee with your paid Costco membership, earning 1% cashback on most purchases delivered in the form of a Costco check (which can be cashed out at the store), earn 2% on travel (airline, lodging, car rental, cruise line, travel agency and tour operators, AND a whopping 3% on dining out. The dining cashback really adds up with those mentioned in my previous posts.

This really only touches the tip of the iceberg on all the wonderful things a single person, if not a family, can purchase at Costco on the cheap. Take a look at warehouse, you'd be surprised on how many day-to-day purchases you can make here and not have to do so in bulk.

IF THIS DEAL HELPED YOU, PLEASE CLICK ON AN AD & SUPPORT THE BLOG.

If you have a deal you'd like to share, e-mail me at WellnCheap@gmail.com

Tuesday, June 26, 2007

Joining RewardsNetwork at a Discount!

RewardsNetwork is a great service, which allows diners to be reimbursed from typically 10-40% of what they spend dining out at participating restaurants back onto their credit card at the end of their monthly statements. Dining out requires NO coupons or printed out certificates. You simply register your credit card numbers and/or those of your spouse online, dine at the participating restaurants, and it will automatically credit your balance at the end of the month. No fuss or embarrassing coupons. Typically, this service has a $49 annual fee which is slowly "chipped away" from your initial savings.

Tip #1 Art of the Deal
1) If you logon via www.rewardsnetwork.com/friends and type in GMA under the enrollment code, you'll get a free 3-month trial and then a discounted $19 membership instead.
2) You'll start earning credit back your first 3 months, and thereafter, 1/2 your savings are applied to your $19 enrollment fee and the other 1/2 is credited to your card.

Tip #2 Sweetening the Deal
1) Many of these restaurants are also on Opentable.com where you can earn points for making reservations

Tip #3 Making the Deal even Better
2) Many are also Restaurant.com participants, so dine with a discounted certificate purchased online at 50%+ and then pay any remaining balance on your bill with a registered RewardsNetwork card (earning you cashback).

IF THIS DEAL HELPED YOU, PLEASE CLICK ON AN AD & SUPPORT THE BLOG.


Happy Dining!

If you have a deal you'd like to share, e-mail me at WellnCheap@gmail.com

Monday, June 25, 2007

Le Bouchon $20 Lyonnaise & 1/2 priced bottles

Monday night in Chicago includes many dining deals, but one of the best involves Le Bouchon.

Aside from their Tuesday $22.00 prix-fixe which includes any starter, any entree and any dessert, they offer a daily Lyonnaise menu for $20 per person. This menu includes:

Choix d' Entree
Salad Lyonnaise
Soupe a l'Oignon Gratinee Lyonnaise

Choix d' Plat Principal
Steak Grille Maitre d'Hotel
Poulet aux Grains avec sa Gousse d'All

Choix de Dessert
Tarte aux Pommes
Marquis au Chocolat

Tip#1 Art of the Deal
Combine this wonderful Lyonnaise prix-fixe with their Monday night special which includes 1/2 priced bottles of wine, and you've got a great French bistro dining experience at a bargain.

Le Bouchon
1958 North Damen Avenue
Chicago, Illinois 60647
773-862-6600

Hours:

Monday-Thursday: 5:30 pm - 11:00 pm
Friday and Saturday: 5:00 pm - 12:00 am
Closed on Sunday


IF THIS DEAL HELPED YOU, PLEASE CLICK ON AN AD & SUPPORT THE BLOG.

Happy Dining!

If you have a deal you'd like to share, e-mail me at WellnCheap@gmail.com

Sunday, June 24, 2007

Gioco, Redlight, Opera and Marche

So for the inaugural post, I'm going to share a phenomenal deal at these four KDK Restaurants in Chicago. Currently KDK Restaurants are running a "Dine Around the World" promotion:

1) Pickup a passport at any KDK Restaurant (Gioco, Redlight, Opera or Marche)
2) Dine at each restaurant, pickup 4 "stamps" on your passport between June 15 - Sept 15
3) Turn in your passport for a $100 gift certificate to the restaurant of your choice.

Tip#1 Art of the Deal
1) Signup online for their frequent diner program at no cost to you.
2) Receive a $25 gift certificate to dine at any of the 4 restaurants just by signing up!

Tip#2 Sweetening the Deal
1) Prix-Fixe Deals at Marche
Mondays & Wednesdays
$28.95 Three Course Prix-Fixe Dinner
Choose ANY appetizer or salad, ANY entree and ANY dessert
Monday - Friday
11:30am - 4:00pm
$18.95 Three-Course Prix-Fixe Lunch
Choose ANY appetizer or salad, ANY entree and ANY dessert

2) Prix-Fixe Deals at Opera
Sundays & Tuesdays
$28.95 Three Course Prix-Fixe Dinner
Choose ANY appetizer or salad, ANY entree and ANY dessert

Tip#3 Making it Phenomenal
1) Signup at Opentable.com to make online reservations.
2) All 4 restaurants are 1000pt reservations
3) Just make 2 reservations via Opentable and you've earned a $20 dining certificate
4) Opentable dining certificates are good at ALL Opentable restaurants

Tip#4 Making it Irresistible
1) Sign up at RewardsNetwork.com to earn cashback on dining out.
2) All 4 restaurants are a part of the RewardsNetwork dining program and earn you 10% cashback

Gioco
Location
1312 S. Wabash
Chicago, IL 60605
312.939.3870


Redlight
Location
820 W. Randolph
Chicago, IL 60607
312.733.8880


Opera
Location
1301 S. Wabash (on the corner of 13th and Wabash)
Chicago, IL 60605
312.461.0161


Marche
Location
833 West Randolph Street
Chicago, IL 60607
312.226.8399

IF THIS DEAL HELPED YOU, PLEASE CLICK ON AN AD & SUPPORT THE BLOG.


Happy Dining!

If you have a deal you'd like to share, e-mail me at WellnCheap@gmail.com