Restaurant.com

Do you enjoy eating out, but can't afford to do it as often as you would like? If you answered YES than this site is for you. Restaurant.com offers $25 restaurant gift certificates for $10! Sometimes they have "sales" where you can get a $25 certificate for $2! In California there is NO expiration date for these certificates so buy as many as you like. Here are two rules that most certificates say. #1 You can only use one certificate per restaurant per month. #2 Your bill must be at least $35 to use a $25 certificate.

There is a code good through 11:59pm April 6, 2010 to get you $25 certificates for $2. Enter "CHOW" at check out. I will update NEW codes as I get them to make sure everyone can get the best deal possible.

When you go out to redeem your certificates why not make a reservation through OpenTable and build up your points?

Here is the site again.

http://www.restaurant.com

-Squirrel

OpenTable

This next site I have been a member of for over 3 years. It's called OpenTable. Before you go out to dinner in Marin or San Francisco (or even out of town/state) you should visit OpenTable and make a reservation. Most reservations are worth 100 points. However, some restaurants offer 1,000 points per reservation if you're willing to go early (between 4pm and 5pm) or late (9pm or later). Save up enough points and get rewarded!

2,000 OpenTable Points = $20 OpenTable Dining Check
5,000 OpenTable Points = $50 OpenTable Dining Check
10,000 OpenTable Points = $100 OpenTable Dining Check

You need to make at least 1 reservation in a 12 month period or your points will expire. There are currently 48 Marin and 385 San Francisco restaurants on OpenTable. This is a FREE website. Sign up now and get rewarded for eating out. You can also make your reservations on your iPhone or on your Blackberry.

Here is the site again.

http://www.opentable.com

-Squirrel

Travel Zoo

This next site is a great one to sign up with if you like to travel. Travel Zoo emails the "Top 20" deals of the week every Wednesday. These deals are for hotels, air plus hotel, cruises and more.

I received a deal that was too good to pass up a few months ago. It was for the Monterey Plaza Hotel and Spa in Monterey. The deal was $149/night plus $50 resort credit to use towards their restaurants or spa. Rooms at this hotel are usually $220+ a night.

Deals included in the "Top 20" are for destinations all over the world. Travel Zoo also offers "Last Minute Travel" deals on their website. It's free to join. What do you have to lose? You never know, you may find an amazing deal on your dream vacation that at one time you thought you couldn't afford.

Here is the link again.

http://www.travelzoo.com/

-Squirrel

LivingSocial

Today I learned about a website called LivingSocial. It's like Groupon (it offers daily deals at deep discounts for many cities in the US), but there is something different about it. If you buy the deal of the day, they will send you a unique link to share with your friends. If 3 of your friends purchase the deal, your deal is FREE!

Earlier this month they offered an Oakland Zoo Membership for $40. ($85 value) They also have deals for restaurants, spas, cupcakes and more. Check it out. You may find something you like at a great deal and if your friends like it too, you pay nothing!

Here is the link again.

http://livingsocial.com/

-Squirrel

Rick's Wine Cellar gets you FREE corkage at Marin restaurants!

Do you love to eat out, but hate paying corkage for your wine or being stuck with a limited wine list? Rick's Wine Cellar in Corte Madera has solved this problem for you. They have currently partnered with 20 Marin restaurants (and counting) to give you FREE corkage on 1 bottle of wine that you purchase from their shop. Rick's Wine Cellar is an award winning wine bar and wine shop that opened in September 2004. They specialize in Pinot Noir and limited production wines. Not only are their prices fair and competitive, but they offer a 5% discount on 6 bottles, 10% on a case (12 bottles) and 15% off on 3 cases or more.

To see a full list of restaurants please visit the below link. On the top of the page you can click on "Free Corkage List".

http://www.rickswinecellar.com/

-Squirrel

See's Candies

Do you like chocolate? I know I do. This next deal is a must buy for See's Candies fans. Currently their chocolates are $16.10 a pound for either a pre-packed box or the loose candy at the counter. If you visit See's Candies website you can buy a 1 pound gift certificate for $13.10. That's a $3 savings! These certificates have NO expiration date. Every year they raise the price per pound. Why not buy a certificate or 2 for yourself or as a gift at this great price? If you hold on to it for a few years you will end up saving more than $3 on a pound. Here is the link again.

http://qd.sees.com/prod.cfm/Gift_Cards_Certificates/Gift_Certificates

-Squirrel

My Blog

Thank you for visiting my blog. All of the posts on my "Home" page will also be in the subcategories you see listed on the left side of the screen. Please check out all of my pages.

-Squirrel

Frequent Buyer Reward Cards

When you visit the below stores be sure to ask for the "frequent buyer card". Here is a list of stores and what they're offering.

Gloria Jean at Northgate Mall - Buy 20 get 1 FREE
http://www.gloriajeans.com/default.aspx

Starbucks at Mollie Stones - Buy 9 Coffee Drinks get 10th FREE
Deli at Mollie Stones - Buy 7 Sandwiches get 8th FREE
http://www.molliestones.com/location.php

Berry Bliss Yogurt at Larkspur Landing - Buy 9 Frozen Yogurts get 1 FREE
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Larkspur-CA/Berry-Bliss-Frozen-Yogurt/50445104178


Bare Escentuals Stores - Spend $120 get $10 off your next purchase
http://bareescentuals.com/


Weezy's Grass Fed Shed - Buy 15 burgers get 1 FREE
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Weezys-grass-fed-shed/203880141885

Netflix and Wii

To say that I am excited about this next deal is an understatement. Recently Netflix announced that they have partnered with Wii. Starting this week you can watch movies that say "watch instantly" from your queue directly through your Wii console! All you have to do is go to the below link and request the FREE set-up disc.

http://www.netflix.com/InstantStreamingDisc?device=Wii

Set-up is quick and easy.

Netflix has also partnered with PS3. Here's the link to get your free PS3 compatible disc.

http://www.netflix.com/InstantStreamingDisc

Every so often all of my movies are in transit to or from Netflix and I'm at home with nothing to watch. There are currently 14 movies in my queue that I can watch now, not to mention the THOUSANDS of movies/TV shows that you can "watch instantly". It will be so nice without the 2-3 day wait for the mail.

-Squirrel

Groupon

Welcome to my first blog. I will list and review websites that offer the best deals on everything from Travel to Movie Tickets to Restaurant Gift Certificates in Marin/San Francisco.

The first site I would like to talk about is Groupon. Groupon is available in most big cities in the US. I have linked you to the San Francisco page. To see additional cities, click on "Visit More Cities". They offer 50% off or more on restaurants/bars, clothing stores, spa treatments, laser removal centers, tanning salons, festivals, etc. There are 5 "deals" per week. Monday thru Thursday each deal is available from 12:00am to 11:59pm that day. Friday's "deal" is from 12:00am thru 11:59pm on Sunday. (3 days)

This is a great site to check daily. You never know, your favorite restaurant or store may be featured with a killer deal that you just can't afford to miss.

Some past deals...

$25 for a women's haircut at Milvali Salon in Mill Valley or San Francisco. (value $60)

$35 lift ticket to Alpine Meadows in Tahoe City. (value $69)

$15 for $30 worth of Indian Fare at Kasa Indian Eatery in San Francisco.

Here is the website again...

http://www.groupon.com/san-francisco/

If there is a website that you would like me to talk about, please post a comment and I'll check out the site.



-Squirrel