Different Way to Save - Discounted Gifts Cards

Do you know about buying discounted gift cards?  When someone recieves a gift card or store credit and don't plan on using it, they might sell it to make a few dollars off of it instead.  As a buyer, YOU benefit by saving a little extra on your purchases. 

As an example, for a $50 gift card you might pay $45. It's not a huge savings, but it's worth it if you know you will be going to a particular restaurant or store anyway, and is especially great if paired with a coupon. I'll put it this way - I ended up with a 30% off coupon for Old Navy recently (the "Give and Get" promotion good through March 24th) - I like to shop the clearance there. So, I went to plasticjungle.com and ordered a $25 gift card for $22, free shipping. I like to think of it as an extra $3 off coupon. That, on top of clearance prices and my 30% off coupon...I got some decent deals on clothes for the kids for next season!

I also planned a mini-weekend-away and was able to get a gift card for the hotel I will be staying at and am now looking into restaurants that might be in the area or other activities (movie theatre, bowling alley) to make the vacation a little more financially worry-free.

Beware - if you are buying a gift card on this website to give as a gift to someone else, the website may not be able to tell you what the "theme" of the card is, so keep that in mind. 

Oh - as a side note, plasticjungle.com also has a notification service, so you enter the cards you're looking for (restaurants and stores you frequent, perhaps) and they will send you a daily email letting you know if they have cards available for that establishment.

Happy discounting!


*Although I am not particularly promting plasticjungle.com, I have used them and found them to be reputable.  Also, some other "discounted gift card websites" I stumbled upon lead you directly to plasticjungle.com, so why not go directly to the source?

Story Land Promotions (Glen, NH)

Purchase the full-price admission during the last three hours of any day (after 3:00pm in August, or after 2:00pm other months), and you’ll receive a free pass to go back the next day.

BUY YOUR 2010 SEASON PASS AND GET 2011 FREE!
$69.99 Per Person - Less than the cost of three visits!
BUY YOUR 2011 STORY LAND SEASON PASS NOW AND ENJOY THE REST OF 2010 FOR FREE! PLUS, WITH EVERY STORY LAND SEASON PASS PURCHASED THROUGH LABOR DAY YOU WILL RECEIVE A FREE KID’S LIFT TICKET TO NORTH CONWAY’S PREMIER FAMILY SKI AREA, CRANMORE MOUNTAIN!
 
SEASON PASS BENEFITS
• No Blackout Dates!
• Valid all day, during the 2010 and 2011 season!
• Always FREE Parking!
• SAVE at our sister parks, Water Country and Lake Compounce!

Get Your Water Country 2011 Season Pass Now (Portsmouth, NH)

BUY YOUR 2011 SEASON PASS AND GET THE REST OF 2010 FREE!
Only $59.99 each

Be prepared for 2011 and get rewarded in 2010!
There’s still plenty of time left in the ’10 season, so get your 2011 Season Pass at this incredible price and enjoy the rest of 2010, FREE!

Season Pass benefits include:
•Valid all day, any day, during the remainder of the 2010 and ALL of the 2011 Season
•No blackout dates!
•Bring-a-Friend Free Day* (valid on your choice of one participating date only)
•Bring-a-Buddy discounts for only $30 (they save $6.99!) - unlimited use**
•10% discount in the Gift Shop!
•Food and Vendor discounts in the park!
•Sister Park admission discounts when visiting Story Land and Lake Compounce

Santa's Village Promotions (Jefferson, NH)

For August 26th visit
Click HERE and print the coloring page (and have the kids color it).  Bring it on your August 26th visit to receive 25% off your purchases that day.

For August 27th visit
Click HERE and print the coloring page(and have the kids color it).  Bring it on your August 27th visit (before 2pm) to receive 25% off your purchases that day.

For August 28th visit
Click HERE and print the coloring page (and have the kids color it).  Bring it on your August 28th visit and if you buy one Apple Crisp ah la mode that day, you'll get the 2nd one free.

For August 29th visit
Click HERE and print the coloring page (and have the kids color it). Bring it on your August 29th visit and if you buy a large pizza after 3pm at Nick's Pizza Emporium, you'll get free fountain sodas for your family.

For August 30th visit
Click HERE and print the coloring page (and have the kids color it). Bring it to one of Santa's Helpers at the Nutcracker Sweets on your August 30th visit and receive a free popcorn with the purchase of any drink during these times 11-11:15am, 1:30-1:45pm, and 4:00-4:15pm.

For August 31st visit
Click HERE and print the coloring page (and have the kids color it). Bring it to one of Santa's Helpers at the Jolly Lolly Candy Store on your August 31st visit and receive a half pound of any flavor fudge free with the purchase of a pound of fudge.

For discounts and promotions on other dates, check the Santa's Village website periodically or before your next visit.

Welcome to My Blog!

When I was a teenager, I had a sense for saving money, but if I wanted something, I bought it, and didn't necessarily search for the beat deal. Now that I have a home and family, it's a more sensitive issue. Seems like I only purchase something after researching the best value for my money and checking to see if I have a coupon for it. At first glance, it may seem like a waste of time, or at the very least, a pain in the behind. BUT, I have to admit, I feel great afterwards, knowing I got the best deal I could. Spending needlessly makes me feel awful...like throwing food away. It's such a waste. Why give someone else my hard-earned money if I can get the same item or a similar item for less $$? In this blog I want to share some thoughts I have and some great deal finds. Many will apply to NH and MA because that's the area I'm from, but you might be able to apply the same principles in finding your own local deals. To thank you for following my blog, I'd like to start by turning you on to some great money-saving websites, which you may already be aware of...try checking out Craigslist.org and Freecycle.org. You can find lots of great deals or even free items that can come in handy...it's like an online yardsale...one person's trash is another person's treasure! Why pay full price for brand new, when you can buy it used and clean it up to make it look like new?!? I have especially used this theory regarding baby/toddler toys, gear, and clothes. I figure they will grow out of it in a few months anyway, so why do you need it to be new? Most people selling their items have only used them a few months, so they are practically new anyway. Besides...when you go to pick up the items, you have the option to change your mind if you decide it's not what you wanted, or not as described (not in good working order). Saving your money by using these sites will allow you spend it in a way that really counts...paying bills, taking the family out for the day, or going for a massage. Doesn't that sound nice? Oh - and an extra bonus - if you need to de-clutter, these sites are a great place to list items and maybe even make a few dollars. Either way, whether you're buying or selling, you can feel good about recycling.