A trip to the movie theaters has always been and will always will be a very popular past time activity. There is something about a movie theater than just cannot be duplicated at home. It could be the whole experience of smelling the popcorn and soda, the sounds of the movies, and see the big screen. And now many of the past movies are making a come back as a 3D version. Now it may be cheaper to see a movie at home but it is certainly not possible to replicate the experience at the movie theater. To help you save a little more money on your visit make sure you take the to read the tips which are outlined below for you. Some of these tips may include coupons while others may just be tips on how to get the best deal on discounted movie theater tickets.

1. For convenience and sometimes a little bit of extra savings check out sites like Fandango. Plus, on occasion Fandango will send out special promo codes when you can then redeem online for additional savings on movie tickets.
2. If you own a credit card like a Visa Signature card check for current promotions on movie theater tickets. Right now they have a promotion going on with Fandango for discounted movie theater tickets.
3. Another great way to save is to check to see if you get the Entertainment Book in your city. If you do, go ahead and purchase a copy. It is full of thousands of dollars worth of coupons and discounts for entertainment, dining, and shopping. In many of the cities that it serves there are coupons inside for area movie theaters. Regal, AMC, and National Amusements are ones that are definitely included in all coupon book publications.
4. Make sure you always follow the movie theater on Facebook and Twitter or sign up for their email newsletters. Most of the movie theaters will announce special promotions and exclusive coupons through their newsletters and social media pages.
5. If you are a member of the AARP a lot of the movie theaters will offer an additional discount for AARP members. Just show your card.
6. If possible always try to go to the movie theaters during the weekdays. Just about all movie theaters offer a discount for weekday admissions as well as discounts for early bird movies. Some even have special discount days on concessions during the week.
7. The daily deal / coupon sites like Groupon is also another great place to check if it is available in your town. These are limited time only promotions but occasionally there will be some big deals on multiple movie ticket purchases.

Overall, there are a lot of different ways to save with either coupons or by taking advantage of special promotions offered by the movie theater itself. It may not be a huge amount of savings but you can typically save at least a few bucks in the process.

Posted by Sok on February 22, 2013     Tags: Featured Blogs

Putting together plans for a vacation but need to do so for less? Just about all of the vacation and travel companies (both online and local) offer all sorts of promotions and coupons for certain vacation bookings. They may offer new customer savings, local savings, or coupons specific to each resort. There is really a wide variety of choices and ways to save on your vacation. It can take a good bit of leg work and mixing and matching of vacation options to discover the best savings for your next vacation. In the end this is totally worth it because you can literally save hundreds of dollars on your vacation if you just take a little extra time to do the proper vacation research. Use this guide as a shortcut to help you get the most savings out of your vacation. What you will find listed below are 10 ways to get the most out of your vacation coupons. Hopefully you can keep a little extra money in your pocket for a little bonus fun while on your vacation.

1. The first thing you need to know is terminology. Not everyone refers to coupons as just "coupons". Some vacation sites refer to them as either promo codes, promotion codes, promotional codes, discount codes, or even voucher codes. Just look at the booking widget on the vacation site to see what they refer to the "coupon" as. Then do a search specifically for that.
2. Always look for new customer savings. Almost all of them offer some sort of vacation savings for all their news customers. For example Cheap Caribbean gives you $50 off your vacation right off the bat. That's on top of the other savings.
3. Always look for the hidden savings like resort credits, spa credits, etc. A lot of resorts and even vacation booking sites offer these promotions as bonuses for booking through them.
4. Look to bundle your savings with air + hotel packages. Most of the time this is the best way to save the most money. To get a baseline of what the flights would cost separately just check sites like Kayak which gives you the lowest published rates for flights.
5. If you are vacationing in your own state then always check to see if they offer any local discounts. This is especially true if you live in the state of Florida.
6. Book well in advance if you want the best deals on a certain group of dates. A lot of vacation companies offer an early booking discount of 10% or more for booking in advance.
7. If you are more flexible with your dates and can go on a moments notice then keep an eye on the last minute deals. Sometimes you can save as much as 70% on last minute vacations.
8. See if there are any loyalty programs for the resort. Just able all of them offer rewards so you can collect them to use towards future stays.
9. If you have a credit card like American Express you can use your point on your vacation booking. They run specials for certain vacations so always keep tabs on what the best deals are.
10. If you can, try and vacation during off peak times. Not only is it less crowded but the discounts are even bigger during these times. And yes you can use coupons during these times as well.

Posted by Sok on February 04, 2013     Tags: Featured Blogs

If you currently wear eyeglasses (prescription or non-prescription) then you know the following: eyeglasses can be very expensive (especially prescription eyeglasses) and you can go through a lot of eyeglasses in your lifetime because you either lose them, break them, or have a toddler. Chances are you will go through quite a few eyeglasses in your lifetime. Added up this can be very expensive, especially if you get your eyeglasses through an optometrist. Unless you have medicare or medicaid then this is almost always the more expensive way to go. Now to help you out, here are 10 ways to save on eyeglasses. Wear contacts? Stay tuned for 10 ways to save on contact lenses.

1. Order your eyeglasses online. There are quite a few places to purchase your eyeglasses, and also quite few places to purchase discounted eyeglasses. Sites like EyeBuyDirect offer savings as much as 90%. Plus new customers can save an additional 15% on their first purchase with coupon code: TRYUS.
2. Look to stack savings. For most of the online retailers of eyeglasses you can shop the sale and clearance section for pretty significant savings. Most of the sites do not have restrictions set on coupon usage so you can actually stack the coupons on top of the sale and clearance eyeglasses
3. Order multiple pairs of eyeglasses at the same time, especially if you have a pretty significant coupon like 15% off or so. Chances are you will eventually need a new pair of eyeglasses.
4. If you are a member of AARP, check to see if the eyeglass retailer offers an additional discount on eyeglasses. Quite a few offer an AARP discount.
5. Check your insurance coverage. If you have vision on your insurance plan not only do you get a free eye exam, but some insurance plans even include a free set of eyeglasses per year with your plan.
6. For local savings the best place to save is through the warehouse clubs like Costco, BJs, Sams, etc. Always check their flyers for sales.
7. Check the eyeglass store policies. This applies for both local an online eyeglass stores. A few of them offer free replacement guarantees. If the eyeglasses break within a year they will replace them for free. Definitely worth a look.
8. Purchase your eyeglasses right before the start of the annual school year. A lot of eyeglass retailers, especially the local ones will run back to school specials on eyeglasses and exams.
9. Always keep tabs on the daily deal sites like Groupon. They regularly run deals with savings of at least 50% on new eyeglasses. Some even offer free eyeglasses!
10. If you are a member of AAA be sure to ask if the eyeglass retailer offers a discount for AAA members. A few of them, especially the major eyeglass store retail chains offer savings of up to 30% on all eyeglass purchases.

Posted by Sok on February 04, 2013     Tags: Featured Blogs

Love it or loathe it, Black Friday is on its way and Black November is already upon us. Whether you enjoy the excitement of bargain hunting or develop a small case of social anxiety disorder this time of year; from online deal-hunters to the in-store aggressor, these few weeks of the holiday shopping season almost redefine the idea of supply and demand. No matter how you feel, the facts remain: Retailers want your business and you want to save money on the best holiday gifts this year. What can consumers expect out of Black Friday 2012? Like I always say, in order to know where you are going you have to know where you've been, so first let's look back at a few impressive trends from last year.

Trends Discovered in 2011

1. According to comScore, a top resource for trend measurements in the digital world, November 25th of last year boasted a colossal $816 million in online sales, which made Black Friday 2011 the heaviest online spending day of the year to date, and it represented a 26 percent increase when compared to Black Friday 2010. That’s an astonishing trend when you consider the increase in Black Friday spending from 2009 to 2010 was only nine percent. What was just as shocking from last year was the 15 percent increase in U.S. retail e-commerce spending overall for the first 25 days of the 2011 holiday shopping season ($12.7 billion was spent online).
2. Black Friday 2011 welcomed the largest emergence of the bargain seeker on the go, with a mobile traffic increase of just over 14 percent (compared to five percent in 2010), and sales via a mobile device sky-rocketed from 3 percent in 2010 to nearly ten percent in 2011, according to IBM’s online retail benchmark study which I found listed at BGR.com. Consumers used their mobile devices last year to compare in-store and online deals. Shoppers referred from social networks generated 0.53 percent of all online sales on Black Friday with Facebook ahead of the pack, accounting for 75 percent of all traffic from social networks. In addition, nearly one in four online consumers purchased a gift from a daily deal site, notes Scott Allan.
3. One might think that the flurry of online and mobile activity from 2011 would have certainly impacted Black Friday sales at brick-and-mortar retailers, right? Actually, not really. comScore chairman, Gian Fulgoni observed, “With brick-and-mortar retail also reporting strong gains on Black Friday [2011], it’s clear that the heavy promotional activity had a positive impact on both channels." Research from ShopperTrak suggested that 2011 Black Friday sales increased over six percent when compared to the previous year, with over $11 billion in retail purchases; which represented the biggest dollar amount ever spent during the day. ShopperTrak CEO Bill Martin observed that Black Friday 2011 was "the largest year-over-year gain in ShopperTrak’s National Retail Sales Estimate for Black Friday since the 8.3 percent increase we saw between 2007 and 2006.”

Trends Expected in 2012

This year Black Friday falls on November 23rd, which gives retailers an extended period of time between Black Friday and Christmas, and also leaves the door open for more holiday bargains for consumers. The bargain hunters at Coupon Shack fully expect this year to at least match, if not exceed, the prevalence of both in-store and online promotions, coupons and Black Friday Deals; retailers do seem to start discounting merchandise earlier and earlier every year, and the entire month is even being labeled Black November. This annual holiday trend paired with today's frugal consumer (well over 50% of households who make over $75,000 a year use coupons nowadays) will entice retailers to provide us with some awesome Black Friday deals for 2012, as well as huge holiday savings in general.

Now, as you are certainly well aware you will be bombarded with an overwhelming amount of "The Best" deals and promotions from just about every retailer you can imagine. These will come in the form of circulars, coupons for clipping, TV ads, Internet ads etc., so its best to ignore most of initial hype. Instead, begin by creating the holiday shopping list with your corresponding budget, then start paying attention to advertisements and promotions that match up with items or gift ideas on your list. Grab your list and get started with our collection of the newest Black Friday Deals that are already saving consumers money. You can also stay in the loop by signing up for Black Friday Deal Alerts from FatWallet.com. One of the greatest advantages to getting alerts is that you receive details for all types of holiday promotion including coupons, coupon codes, free shipping offers, cash back and mail in rebates. FatWallet is predicting huge promotional growth in 2012, expecting the total number of advertised sale items to rise well above 20,000.

Some market analysts believe that if the growth rate seen in 2011 continues in 2012, then Black Friday Shopping this year will benefit both retailers and consumers. In order to increase their holiday presence, retail giants such as Walmart, BestBuy and the online authority Amazon (which was last year's most visited retail website) are expected to offer a variety of discounts for consumers. Walmart is expected to provide the best deals on clothing, home appliances and cell phones; while Amazon will probably have the best deals on laptops, notebooks, iPads, books, accessories and gadgets.

One interesting 2012 trend prediction comes from an article posted by Jenn Strathman, a ten year investigative reporter and consumer blogger. Strathman suggests that retailers will encourage you to spend your money in their store by offering price match guarantees in order to pull your business offline. Some companies will even be matching online prices, which is usually excluded in policies. Here are a few savings tips offered up by Jenn Strathman before you do any shopping:

1. Do your research so you're not driving store to store.
2. Read the fine print of any promotion or policy because there are exclusions.
3. Bring the ad or competitor offer even if the policy doesn't require it.

Mobile sales are expected to increase exponentially in the coming years so go ahead and get your device ready to use as a research tool for in-store and online comparison shopping. The president and CEO of the National Retail Federation(NRF) Matthew Shay stated in October that “Online retail has been a bright spot for years and we don’t expect that trend to change any time soon, especially with the growth in mobile. Aside from the convenience, shoppers look to the holiday season to take advantage of retailers’ increased digital offerings. In addition to enhancing the site experience, retailers have spent the year investing in optimizing their mobile and social platforms, just what holiday shoppers are looking for.”

FatWallet.com’s updated Black Friday iPhone and iPad app reinforces this trend as they prepare for consumers to use more mobile technology for their shopping activities, and their predictions include a 400% increase in tablet and smartphone deals on Black Friday this year. Save money with coupons when you shop with your mobile device and get the RetailMeNot mobile coupon app. Whether you're shopping online or comparing in-store prices with your mobile device you will always be sure you're getting the best deal by factoring in any coupons or promo codes found online.

Posted by Ryan on November 07, 2012     Tags: Black Friday Deals

Howdy folks! Following up on our previous post focusing on Charlotte Coupons, we wanted to begin the newest edition of our City Savings Guides which will highlight some of the most affordable options for fine dining without sacrificing quality for value. Whether you're looking to take the family out for a bite to eat, gathering with friends or planning a date night for two, there are ways to save money at the hottest spots and finest restaurants in the Charlotte, North Carolina area. Here are the latest selections hand picked as some of the best restaurants in Charlotte for fine dining on a budget. Be sure to follow awesome Charlotte Tweeps like Charlotte Dining (@CLTdining) and CLT Restaurant Week (@QueensFeast), and please comment here or share your favorite restaurant deals on Twitter @couponshack!

Breakfast/Brunch

CharlotteMagazine.com recommends Terrace Cafe, which has two locations in the Charlotte area, both of which serve brunch until 2:30 everyday. So whether you're nursing a hangover (Mimosas are only $5 on Sundays), looking for a bite after church or just hungry any weekday morning/afternoon, stop in and chow down on red velvet waffles, shrimp and grits, quiche, omelets and four kinds of French toast. Their Blog is updated frequently with events, special offers and dining coupons, and the Charlotte Entertainment Book has up to $8 in coupon savings for the Terrace Cafe.

My personal recommendation would be Just Fresh which is a hometown Charlotte favorite and has five locations in the area. Just Fresh has something for the whole family and they serve up some of the most delicious and healthy cuisine in the Carolinas. Their nutritionally balanced menu features a variety of fresh and wholesome foods made from premium ingredients; there's a healthy twist on all the classic favorites with many mouth-watering originals and sides like fruit, soups and salad. The Just Fresh breakfast menu (much of which is under $5) includes bagels, pancakes, sausage & cheddar wrap, scrambled egg breakfast and more. Here is their entire Menu.

Lunch/Happy Hour

Duckworth's is one of my personal faves and there are three locations in the Carolinas- Park Rd & Ballantyne (Charlotte area) and Mooresville. Duckworth's is good any time after Noon- lunch, happy hour, dinner, drinks, the works. The atmosphere is elegant but they know how to have a good time. The steak & cheese from their menu will take on the likes of any sandwich from Philly, and with daily specials like lunches for under eight bucks, 65 cent wings, kids eat free and more, Duckworth's offers an awesome Charlotte dining experience without the fine dining bill. Duckworth's Menu also features dozens of beer specials on tap, a beer menu that's updated every Friday and bottles of all the classic favorites; with select beers qualifying for a $4 savings promo on Draft Nights. Right now Duckworth's has a coupon discount for $5 off this month's Featured Pizza (just mention this to your server).

Vinny's Raw Bar is a lively Charlotte hot spot, especially for a late lunch and happy hour, and their awesome drink specials, mouth-watering menu and weekly dining discounts keep customers merry and full. Daily drink specials include dollar domestics, $4 Bloody Mary's, $4 Margaritas and more (specials vary by day); food specials include all you can eat crab legs and quarter oysters (steamed or raw). Vinny's has two locations (South Blvd in Charlotte & Mooresville) each of which has an extensive menu featuring awesome apps, premium fried favorites, wings, sandwiches, soups and salads with everyday low prices. I couldn't find any Charlotte coupons for Vinny's just yet, but I'll be sure to post them when they become available.

Dinner

Red Bowl Asian Bistro is always a good choice if you find yourself craving professionally crafted sushi and authentic Asian cuisine, and there are multiple locations in the Charlotte area. Each of them accepts the $10 in Charlotte coupon savings available in the 2013 Entertainment Book, but you should also check online for monthly coupons and promos from individual Red Bowl restaurant locations. Ru Sans is a local (and my own personal) favorite for value priced sushi that's hand-crafted and out of this world. Their menu features dollar sushi rolls, and specialty rolls that are delicious. You don't need a coupon when you can get multiple rolls of awesome sushi for less than ten bucks!

If it's a more romantic outing you seek, or just something a little more classy for less, wine and dine with a group or just the two of you at D'Vine Wine Cafe located in Ballantyne (20 minutes from uptown Charlotte). A casually upscale atmosphere combined with wine and gourmet inspired food makes for a wonderful evening out. Plus, there are $12 in dining coupons available for D'Vine Wine Cafe in the Charlotte Entertainment coupon book. The wine list features over 35 fine wines, dozens of specialty beers and a full bar; all of which can be enjoyed comfortably inside or from D'Vine's outdoor "cushy" couch seating, which is the only one of its kind in Ballantyne. Who said there weren't any coupons for fine dining?! Charlotte area residents may want to consider scanning their QR Code Here to download the custom D’Vine Wine Web App for any iPhone, Android, Blackberry or tablet device. This way you can keep up to date on D’Vine’s latest promos, wines, case club lists, menu specials, tastings and special events.

Stay tuned for the next edition of Fine Dining with Charlotte Coupons!

Posted by Ryan on October 25, 2012     Tags: City Savers Guides