Cheapskate - Cheapskate's Blog - Bakersfield.com

Card gets you 20% off some CPK items

Mon, 20 Jul 2009 17:12:44 PDT

California Pizza Kitchen is offering a new promotion to get customers to try its new menu items.

With the CPK Adventure Card, customers will receive 20 percent off new menu items. These items include four types of pizzas and the Moroccan Chicken Salad.

The card can be used over and over between now and Sept. 15, and can be used for both dine-in and carry out, said spokeswoman Allison Perkins.

The only way to sign up for the card is to visit www.cpk.com/card, Perkins said. After signing up online, the card will be delivered in the mail.

CPK in Bakersfield is at 10150 Stockdale Highway.

Free fish Tacos on Tuesday

Sun, 12 Jul 2009 19:40:01 PDT

Yep, Long John Silver's is giving away free Baja Fish Tacos on Tuesday, July 14 from opening until 2:30 p.m.

You can grab one of the new tacos in stores or at the drive-through window, the company's press release says.

One per customer!

The tacos normally run 99 cents apiece.

Free Slurpees on 7/11

Thu, 09 Jul 2009 12:47:48 PDT

In honor of its 82nd anniversary, participating 7-Eleven stores are giving away free Slurpees on Saturday, 7/11 (get it?)

A random phone survey of Bakersfield locations found that most are participating; however some folks manning the phones had no idea what the caller was talking about, so proceed at your own risk.

The corporate-issued cups are 7.11-ounces. The drinks are free while supplies last.

Free food — if you dress like a cow

Thu, 09 Jul 2009 12:36:34 PDT

In the ‘moo’d for a free meal? As part of Chick-fil-A’s fifth annual Cow Appreciation Day celebration, the restaurant at 5260 Stockdale Highway is offering a free meal (breakfast, lunch or dinner) to any customer who visits fully dressed as a cow on Friday.

Those who go all out will receive an entrée of choice, a side item and a beverage.

For those who are too timid to wear full cow costumes, the restaurant will award a complimentary entrée to customers partially dressed in cow attire, such as a cow-spotted scarf, purse, hat or other accessory.

Chick-fil-A has a Web site dedicated to the occasion, cowappreciationday.com.

Station offering 99 cent gas

Thu, 09 Jul 2009 12:32:52 PDT

Mesa Marin Chevron, 11101 Highway 178, will sell regular unleaded gas for 99 cents from 3 to 5 p.m. Friday to the first 100 customers to roll in.

There will be a 10-gallon limit per car.

The new Groove 99.3 will be there with music and giveaways, and Ralph Bailey, of 1560 KNZR, will broadcast his show live inside Mesa Marin Chevron.

— Buckley Broadcasting media release

Free food at Wienerschnitzel

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 11:57:05 PDT

Here's a press release straight from the folks at Wienerschnitzel:

July is both NATIONAL HOT DOG MONTH and NATIONAL ICE CREAM MONTH – so, to commemorate both, Wienerschnitzel is giving away a FREE Original Chili Dog or FREE Tastee Freez Small Cone on July 14 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at all participating Bakersfield locations.

“Free Chili Dog or Small Cone Day” is an annual Wienerschnitzel celebration honoring America’s most favorite foods. With 345 stores in eight states, Wienerschnitzel is The World’s Largest Hot Dog Chain® (and the official hot dog of the Bakersfield Blaze).

Free family friendly movies!

Wed, 10 Jun 2009 16:39:42 PDT

Bored, restless kids driving you crazy?

Take them to the movies for free courtesy of Regal Entertainment Group.

The parent company of Edwards Bakersfield 14 at The Marketplace is hosting the Free Family Film Festival, which began June 2 and continues through July 30.

A selection of free G- and PG-rated movies will be shown 10 a.m. on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays at 9000 Ming Ave. The free movies are an annual community service Regal offers to children out of school for the summer.

Get there early because seating capacity is limited.

Sponsors are Regal Entertainment Group, The Breeze 97.7, Groove 99.3 and Kelly 95.3, as well as Barber Honda, Apollonia Dental Center, San Joaquin Community Hospital, Gama Trucking, Christ’s Church of the Valley, Kaleo Fellowship, Koinonia Family Services, and Kern County Family Magazine.

For information, call (661) 663-3044.

Free hot dogs at Hot Dog on a Stick

Thu, 04 Jun 2009 14:58:58 PDT

WHAT:      Hot Dog on a Stick is giving away free hot dogs, which it has done annually since 2006, when it launched “Free Hot Dog Day” to commemorate its 60th anniversary.

WHERE:      Hot Dog on a Stick, food court of Valley Plaza mall, 2701 Ming Ave.

WHEN:      5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Monday, June 15.

Limit one per person.

Mother's (and Father's) Day deals at CALM

Mon, 27 Apr 2009 15:27:39 PDT

Here's a CALM news release:

Mothers and grandmothers, May 10 truly is your day at the California Living Museum (CALM), where you will be admitted for Mother’s Day at half price and have a chance to win a free CALM Family Membership, too. CALM, located between Lake Ming and Hart Park on Alfred Harrell Highway in northeast Bakersfield, will be open 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Bring the whole family.

Be sure to browse through CALM’s gift store where you will find special nature-related items that we are sure Mom will love.

“Spring is an especially beautiful time of year at CALM,” said Director Tom Anspach. “Pack a picnic lunch, bring the whole family and enjoy the day.”

We never forget good old Dad (and Grandpa, too). So, we are extending the same offer to them on Father’s Day, June 21!

For more information, call CALM at (661) 872-2256 or visit the Web site.

CALM is a combination zoo, botanical garden and natural history museum, which for 26 years has provided residence for native animals that because of injury or abandonment can no longer survive on their own in the wild.

Free pick-me-ups courtesy of McD's

Tue, 21 Apr 2009 10:59:00 PDT

If only for your neighbors' sake, make it look like a chore if you decide to act on McDonald's latest offer for free specialty coffee. Because, apparently, that's what got us this second round of McCafes on the house.

Come May 1, the fast food chain is swinging through Bakersfield with a special van and collapsible outdoor cafe, giving away lattes, iced lattes, cappuccinos and mochas. They're the same drinks the chain passed out free around Bakersfield early last year, another example of Bakersfield's test-marketing expertise.

We did such good, hard work quaffing those espresso drinks that the company wants to thank us. And what better way than giving us more of the same?

So on the morning of May 1, the Mobile McCafe is setting up shop at Cal State Bakersfield. Then, between 5 and 8 p.m., the van will be serving up coffee at 19th Street near H Street as part of the Downtown Business Association's First Friday event. The next day, on May 2, the van will be stationed at Sam Lynn Ballpark from 8 a.m. to noon for the Northwest Baseball League Tournament.

Just don't look like you're enjoying it, or the company may get the idea we'd do this for free.

More Chick-fil-A freebies

Tue, 21 Apr 2009 09:19:46 PDT

The Chick-fil-A restaurant located at 5260 Stockdale Highway is giving away free chicken...again.

We really like these folks.

They're testing a new sandwich, specifically their Chick-fil-A Spicy Chicken Sandwich, by giving it away for free through Saturday, April 25.

Catch is you have to tell the cashier: “I can take the heat!” in order to get the freebie.

The silly catch phrase shouldn't be too tough for Bakersfield, which knows a thing or two about heat.

Here is the obligatory gushing from the press release:

“We are so excited that California was chosen as a test market for the new Spicy Chicken Sandwich,” said Justin Clark, franchise Operator of the restaurant. “I think our customers are going to love it, so I wanted to give them a chance to try it for free – but only if they can ‘take the heat!’”

After a successful introduction in 2008 in Baltimore and Jacksonville, Fla., Chick-fil-A expanded its test of the Spicy Chicken Sandwich to include all of the chain’s California markets starting in April.

The hand-breaded sandwich is seasoned with a fiery blend of peppers, pressure-cooked in 100 percent refined peanut oil and served on a toasted, buttered bun with two pickle chips. The sandwich starts at $3.25.

This is the Atlanta-based fast food chain's third round of freebies. They gave away free sandwiches a few days ahead of their grand opening in March to publicize their arrival, and upon opening awarded a year's worth of free combo meals to the new store's first 100 customers.

For more info on the latest, call (661) 327-5260.

Free ice cream on Tuesday

Mon, 20 Apr 2009 17:15:26 PDT

Tuesday is Free Cone Day at Ben & Jerry’s as the ice cream company celebrates its 31st annual giveaway at all locations — including the one at East Hills Mall’s food court.

Dessert lovers can pick up a free scoop between noon and 8 p.m. The company expects to give out 2 million scoops worldwide.

Tax Day deal at P.F. Chang's

Mon, 13 Apr 2009 14:04:16 PDT

P.F. Chang’s China Bistro Inc. is giving customers a 15 percent discount on Wednesday, April 15 in honor of Tax Day, according to the restaurant.

“In the current economic climate, everyone deserves a break and that’s exactly what P.F. Chang’s is providing with our Tax Relief discount,” Rick Tasman, COO for P.F. Chang’s China Bistro, said in a statement.

The Tax Relief deal includes all guests of P.F. Chang’s China Bistro, including the location at 10700 Stockdale Highway, and applies to every order. On April 15 only, the entire bill will be discounted 15 percent.

Free cake!

Mon, 30 Mar 2009 09:17:21 PDT

With great fanfare and brief comments by Bakersfield Mayor Harvey Hall, the late, great WaMu unveiled a sign bearing the Chase logo on its downtown Bakersfield bank branch, today, formalizing JP Morgan Chase & Co.'s take over of failed thrift Washington Mutual.

We could tell you about the eco-friendly remodeling Chase promises for all its newly acquired branches, or how spiffy all the staff and dignitaries looked in their black suits and blue shirts (mirroring the color of the new owner's logo), but let's cut to the chase...ha ha...get it...chase? Nevermind.

The critical information to impart here is that all eight of Bakersfield's branches, plus one in Taft and one in Delano, will be serving cake to customers today to celebrate. Free while supplies last.

So...let them eat cake!

Gently used clothes and toys

Wed, 18 Mar 2009 11:47:44 PDT

Little Feet Repeats, a semi-annual children’s clothing and toy consignment event, will take place April 16-18 on the second floor of Golden State Mall, 3201 F St.

Hours are 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. April 16 and 17 and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. April 18. Merchandise is half off on the last day.

Little Feet Repeats owner Carla McCoy says gently used items will sell for up to 90 percent off of retail store prices.

For more information on selling or shopping during the 6th semi-annual Little Feet Repeats, call (661) 444-8072 or log onto www.LittleFeetRepeats.com.

Ashley Furniture awards $1,500 voucher to one winner a month

Tue, 17 Mar 2009 10:34:44 PDT

Ashley Furniture HomeStore has teamed up with radio station KUZZ to sponsor a contest that will award one voucher worth $1,500 in furniture each month through the end of the year. That's a total of $16,500 worth of free furniture for local families.

Winners are selected in a drawing. You can enter the contest at Ashley Furniture HomeStore, 8915 Rosedale Highway, or online at kuzz.com.

The February winner was Kaleigh Halford of Bakersfield.

Albertsons launches 'refund rewards'

Thu, 12 Mar 2009 17:57:37 PDT

Albertsons unveiled a “refund rewards” program Thursday that offers up to 10 percent additional value to shoppers who buy grocery gift cards in increments of $250 or $300.

The program runs Sunday through April 15.

Customers can purchase the cards at the stores’ customer service counters. Purchases may not exceed $1,250 per household, and the cards may not be used to buy alcohol, fuel, tobacco, lottery tickets, dairy products, prescription drugs or additional gift cards.

Not all Albertsons stores are participating in the program, but a company spokeswoman said the offer does extend to stores in Bakersfield, Ridgecrest and Tehachapi.

Get free help preparing taxes

Thu, 12 Mar 2009 17:52:55 PDT

Free tax assistance for qualified residents of Kern County is available from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. March 21, offering a rare opportunity to enlist the help of an Internal Revenue Service employee on a Saturday.

The “Super Saturday” event, a national undertaking that takes place locally at the IRS Taxpayer Assistance Center at 4825 Coffee Road, is available to people and households whose income is less than $42,000.

Free assistance is normally available at the center from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Various community organizations also offer tax preparation help locally. For a site near you, call the IRS at (800) 906-9887. The agency’s Web site, IRS.gov, also offers information about how to locate free tax help.

Mom and Jamba Juice: Eat your oatmeal

Mon, 02 Mar 2009 14:43:48 PST

Jamba Juice is offering customers oatmeal for just $1 through the end of the month with a coupon available online.

The promotion is to call attention to the smoothie and snack eatery’s newest menu item, oatmeal made from scratch with organic steel-cut oats and served with brown sugar crumble and a choice of three fruit toppings.

The oatmeal normally has a suggested price of $2.95. To get the discount, customers must print the coupon found online at www.oatmealforabuck.com and take it to any participating Jamba Juice location.

There are three Jamba Juice stores in Bakersfield: in the south at 5180 Stockdale Highway, at Valley Plaza Mall and at Northwest Promenade.

Free chicken Friday

Thu, 26 Feb 2009 19:51:08 PST

Calling all chicken eaters.

This Friday, Feb. 27, Chick-fil-A is giving away 10,000 sandwiches.

The deal kicks off at 10:30 a.m., company folks say. One per customer.

The new restaurant is at the northeast corner of Stockdale Highway and California Avenue.

Can't make it Friday? Check out reporter Courtenay Edelhart's full story about the eatery's opening and the chance to camp out for a year's worth of free food.