Hertz free get away day

Are you traveling this Holiday Season and need a rental car? Hertz is offering a deal this year that you'll want to take advantage of!

Hertz is giving away a Free Weekend Day once a month, until March 2009 with Promotion Code 127595. That's one Free Day of a rental car and all you have to pay is taxes and the fees. I did a quick quote and discovered that I could rent a car for only $1.52 from the Hillsboro Airport! You can also book in advance to save your days. There are some exclusions of course so to be sure to read the terms & conditions! Get more details from here: click here

https://www.hertz.com/rentacar/specialoffers/index.jsp?targetPage=holidaypromo.jsp&Category=W&TabLink=tlink1

Shopping: Grocery Outlet in Hillsboro

Grocery outlet has been around a number of years now on 1st street in hillsboro. I remember the building as "the old Safeway" from my childhood.

The store is known for having reasonable prices on canned and frozen foods, and for some people inexpensive wine.
I went looking for inexpensive canned foods to restock our "emergency supply" in case of an emergency. You know, the plastic tub with food / water / batteries / radio / flashlight, etc.

I found a good number of cans of vegetables for 0.59 each, and a few for 0.50 each.
Santa Fe beans, Sweet Peas, sliced carrots, Green Giant beans, Corn, and mixed veggies.

Fruit was generally 0.99 / can. Peaches, Pears and Cocktail. On my way out of the store, they had special cans of fruit "for kids" at 2/$1.00. (fruit in extra light syrup with vitamins added) I wish I had seen this one on the way in, but didn't want to go back through line. :)

For us men, they have large cans of chili beans for $0.99. After all of that, I threw in some cans of "whole potatoes" and a few boxes of saltine crackers to round things out.

For $20 I was able to walk out with a huge selection of vegetable and fruit, enough to last the family a week or so if needed, and still had enough for a can of olives.


As for shopping environment, I found the store to be much less crowded than Winco, shorter lines, and no need to bag things yourself. (I was given a box for everything) You do have to walk through all of the toiletries and some toys to get into the main aisles, which I personally find a bit irritating. All in all, I find Grocery Outlet to be a good place to shop for canned foods and frozen foods, matched in price only by sales at most other stores.

Have fun on the weekend without spending $$$

You've been working hard all week and now it's the weekend.  Time to relax a bit and enjoy time with the family.  Unfortunately, the dollar isn't stretching as far as it once did so you should be looking for some low cost fun in and around the Portland area.  Here are a few things that you and your family can enjoy with minimal cost and most of these are no cost:

1. Forest Park

What: With more than 5,000 acres to explore, Forest Park is the largest city park in the United States. There are 50 miles of trails and 30 miles of gated roadways for mountain biking. Visit Forest Park for a run, hike, bike ride, or horseback ride.

Where: Because the park is so large, there are many entrance points. Check the maps at theFriends of Forest Park website

When: Daily 5 a.m. to 10 p.m.

2. Saturday Market

What: Hundreds of vendors sell handmade goods such as pottery, jewelry clothing and candles. Plus, enjoy food from the international food court. Each week, there's entertainment from live musicians, jugglers, and a variety of street performers. This is a great place to bring out-of-town visitors.

Where: Underneath the Burnside Bridge on the west side of downtown Portland.

When:Saturdays and Sundays from March – December 24. The market is also open for an entire week leading up to Christmas Eve for what’s called “The Festival of the Last Minute.”

3. Portland Farmer’s Market

What: Local farmers and food vendors sell the goods they’ve grown or made locally. In addition to excellent produce, you’ll find baked goods, meats, cheeses, and a variety of gourmet foods.

Where: Saturdays in the south park blocks between SW Harrison and Montgomery. Wednesdays in the south park blocks between SW Salmon and Main.

When: Saturdays from 8:30 a.m. – 2 p.m. and Wednesdays from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m., April - October

Visit the farmer’s market photo gallery

4. Pioneer Courthouse Square

What: A public square in the center of downtown, known as “Portland’s living room.” The square hosts hundreds of events each year, including concerts and cultural fairs. In the warmer months, it’s a great place to sit and people watch.

Where: The block between SW 6th and Broadway and between SW Yamhill and Morrison

When: The square never closes. For event information, check the online calendar.

5. International Rose Test Garden

What: This garden receives and plants roses from all over the world. 8,000 rose bushes are on display here. Bring a picnic and savor the views of downtown and Mount Hood. Don’t forget your camera!

Where: 400 SW Kingston Ave., (inside Washington Park)

When: Daily from 7:30 a.m. - 9:00 p.m. The roses begin blooming in early May and peak around the first week of June.

Rose Garden FAQ

6. Powell’s City of Books

What: A must-see bookstore that takes up an entire city block and holds more than a million volumes. Every Portlander must get lost here at least once. Beyond books, Powell’s also has a coffee shop and an art gallery in the Pearl Room.

Where: Enter at the Corner of W. Burnside and 10th Ave.

When: Daily 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. with shorter hours on holidays. Reasons to shop Powell's Books

7. Hoyt Arboretum

What: The definition of arboretum is “A botanical garden devoted to trees.” Here, you can walk among more than 1,100 species. Twelve miles of trails wind through the park, and the Visitor Center provides maps, trail guides, and detailed plant information.

Where: 2 miles west of downtown near the zoo. See the website for directions.

When: Grounds: Daily, 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. Visitor Center: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. M – F, closes at 3 p.m. on Saturday.

8. Tom McCall Waterfront Park

What: Along the west bank of the Willamette River is a beautiful green space named after Governor Tom McCall, who held office from 1967 - 1975. Attractions at the park include Salmon Street Springs, a public fountain where kids frolic in summertime. There’s also a paved trail for walkers, runners, or bikers, which connects to the Eastside Esplanade.

Where: Naito Pkwy between SW Harrison St and NW Glisan St.

When: 24 hours a day

9. Brewery Tours

What: Learn about the brewing process and see the inner workings of Portland's best breweries. You might even get to taste the suds.

When: Call ahead to schedule your tour.

Where: There are lots of breweries to choose from. The most popular are:

Widmer Portland Brewing Bridgeport Brewing McMenamins Edgefield

KMart doubling coupons

Kmart will be having several Double coupon Days, Weeks or Weekends.

Super Double Manufacturer Coupons up to & Including $2 Value

Amount of Credit from doubling a coupon cannot exceed the retail price of an item. No cash or in-store purchase credit will be awarded for any amount exceeding the retail price of the item. Limit 1 coupon for each item purchased. Only 1 coupon will be doubled per item. You may only purchase 4 of the same items using double coupons. Coupons do not apply to sales tax. Limit 75 coupons per customer per day. Internet coupons or copies of manufacturer instant coupons are not valid.

Offer excludes products prohibited by law, including but not limited to alcohol, tobacco, and prescription medication. Not valid on Non-merchandise, federal or state regulated items, prior purchases, Lands End. Sears merchandise run on Sears registers within Kmart and Kmart.com. In the event of a return, coupon savings may be deducted from refund. Sears Holdings(Kmart) reserves the right to modify or cancel this program at any time.

Available at participating Kmart and Super Kmart locations.

Example deals:

Tylenol $3.99 - $2MQ = Free
Gillette Body Wash $4 - $2MQ = Free
Resolve Carpet cleaner $4.50 - $1.25MQ = $2
Oust $3.50 - $1.50MQ = $0.50
2 Olay Quench $4.99 - $2MQ = $1.98
Hershey extra dark chocolate $1.89 - $1MQ = Free
Kotex Lightdays $1.29 - $0.75MQ = Free
Vive Pro $3.49 - $2MQ = Free
Olay Body Bar Pack $4 - $2MQ = Free
Lime A Way $2.66 - $1 Peelie = $0.66
2000 Flushes $2.99 - $1MQ = $0.99
Enddust $3.29 - $2MQ = Free
Lysol All Purpose Cleaner $2.66 - $1MQ = $0.66
Lysol All Purpose Trigger $2.66 - $1MQ = $0.79
Airborne Lime $5.99 - $2MQ = $1.99
Wet Ones $2.29 - $0.75MQ = $0.79
2 Rubbermaid containers $3.49 - $1MQ = $2.98

To spend or not to spend?

As most of us know, yesterday was called "Black Friday". It is the day when many businesses depend on consumers to spend Billions of dollars on "stuff" in order to make a profit. They spend tens or hundreds of millions on advertising and "loss leaders" to get people into the store.

And people were actually mobbing the stores to save a few dollars. Standing in line all night, etc.

The bigger questions are: Did they save any money? Did they help the economy? Did people spend more than they had to?

My interpretation: People go into the stores only planning to buy "one thing", but see all of the "great deals that people would love to receive for 'Christmas'" and go nuts. Everything gets thrown on Visa or Mastercard. The real winner? Visa and Mastercard. They are making a few percent of each purchase made.

The real losers? Our saving accounts.

In reality, we would all do better by just doing the following:
1) Avoid mass chaos
2) Carefully make a plan. Be Intentional about our gift giving and buying
3) AVOID DEBT for Christmas.
4) Give of ourselves, give our time and focus.
5) For Christmas, actually celebrate "Christmas". Investigate, plan, discuss, read, etc.
6) Prioritize family. Be intentional.
7) If you REALLY have to buy something, try to get it for the best price possible.
- Check online coupons
- Can you get it "preowned"?
- Call around and investigate
- Can you get free shipping online and save a trip to the store?
- Can you pitch in with someone else and share giving the gift?
- are you SURE that you NEED that gift? :)

It is just so easy to put Buying and Spending above People and Christmas this time of year, so we have to be careful. :)

Michaels Crafts super-printable coupons for this weekend

http://mic.michaels.com/BonusCouponUS.aspx

For those of you who spend money on crafts this time of year!

Money saving tip: Inflate tires

This is the time of year when temperatures drop from the 50's down to the 30's.
It is especially important to re-check your tire pressure to save money on fuel, especially if you are taking a long trip. An inexpensive gauge is only a couple dollars and a worthwhile investment to keep in the glovebox.

If you are taking a long trip, here are some good tips:
1) Check tire pressure and condition, rotate if necessary. Consider "siping" if expecting some ice.
2) Check all fluids the week before. (Oil, anti-freeze, steering fluid, etc)
3) Carry an ice-scraper, flares, a blanket, some food and water, maps, and a cell phone.
4) Tell friend or family when and where you will be traveling
5) Look for discounts prior to traveling. (travelocity, priceline, etc.)
6) Buy chains now before you need them. I tend to buy them at Les Schwab tire centers, and if you don't use them, they'll refund them in teh spring. They will also check your tire pressure, do siping, and tire rotations.
7) Don't forget your camera!!! And bring extra batteries and/or the charger. :)

Welcome!

Welcome!

Come help yourself and others in the area save as much money as possible!

We all need to spend money, but one of our goals is to spend as little as possible for what we need to buy. We all need to buy food to eat, clothes to wear, haircuts, etc.

The goal of this blog is to put forth general money saving tips, as well as local deals, bargains, and promotions for the area west of Portland. (Beaverton, Hillsboro, etc.)
(employee discounts, fresh deals, give-aways, etc.)