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News from reporter Courtenay Edelhart:
After 15 years, party supply store PartyWorks is going out of business.
Owner Rob Fox said the store lost its lease, and “the economy is just too unpredictable to move the store to another location.”
The store is best known for transforming...
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Here's a "raw report" press release from the folks at Coke and NASCAR:
ATLANTA, July 1, 2008 – For members of the Coca-Cola Racing Family, each victory in a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series™ race is traditionally followed by a thirst-quenching chug of an ice cold Coke Zero in the...
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You're not driving and talking on your cell phone without a hands-free device, are you?
The law requiring drivers age 18 and over to use a hands-free device while driving went into effect today. (Those under 18 aren't allowed to talk on cell phones will driving at all.)
Reporter John Cox...
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One of the news staffers rented a movie at Blockbuster over the weekend and found out the current prices were $2 a day for a new release and $1 for an older title.
He let us know, and reporter Courtenay Edelhart checked it out with the company. Turns out Bakersfield is a test marketing for this...
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The last time I said anything about IHOP, a bunch of bloggers protested, saying they don't like the food. Fair enough.
When you're looking for inexpensive breakfast — say with a large group or a family — it can be a great deal. And right now the Rosedale Highway location and the one...
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It's sale time at J.C. Penney.
One deal the store is running right now is buy one, get the second one for 88 cents, on all kinds of items.
I can be skeptical of that — who wants two of the same shirt or shoes? Or, alternately, is the price of the first item so high that a second...
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You gotta love this headline: Jack Feels Your (Gas) Pain!
That comes to us today from the PR folks at Jack in the Box, who want you to know they're handing out two free regular tacos on June 26 to any customer who brings in a gas receipt. (No copies! No cheating!)
"The rising...
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Check out the $5 Outback Steakhouse coupon in today's Californian.
It's for $5 off a Summer Days Aussie Graves entree with a minimum purchase of $25.
It's good Mondays through Thursdays, through Aug. 19.
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I was just reading a story from one of our news services that offered tips for throwing nice, yet reasonably priced birthday parties for children.
It pitched advice you've probably heard before — hold a party at home, pick a simple activity to keep children busy like staging a play with...
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Here’s a penny-saving trick for those of us who absolutely MUST have our regular non-fat, half-caf, Venti latte — or maybe an iced, double-mocha blended coffee drink from Starbucks.
If you’re a card-carrying “member” of Barnes & Noble bookstore on California...
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Even the folks at the California Living Museum know economic times are tough. Check out this "raw report" press release:
In an attempt to help in difficult economic times, the California Living Museum (CALM) will offer a monthly Kids Free Day at CALM on the last Saturday of the...
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In honor of Father's Day, we share this online survey from U.S News & World Report found by one of our staffers.
It's a quick seven questions meant to make you think about this big choice.
Here it is!
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Spend $20, save $5.
That's the coupon Walgreens is offering shoppers for Friday only. Find the online coupon here. Hit the "print coupon" button.
The deal excludes alcohol, prescriptions and co-pays and some other items, just as many store coupons do.
Need to find a store...
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McDonald's is selling 42-ounce sodas for 69 cents.
(For those of you pinching every penny, that's 74 cents with tax in metro Bakersfield.)
Of course they figure you'll buy a bunch more and still spend several bucks. Me? I cleaned out the bottom of my purse, scooped up a bunch of pennies and...
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Check out this report from USA Today:
"Thirsty for more business during the worst slump in its history, Starbucks will try to lure more customers by offering two hours of free AT&T Wi-Fi a day.
"The Wi-Fi freebie will be available starting Tuesday to customers who purchase a...
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Hurry up! We recently reported that the Vons on White Lane is closing for good.
Today? It's nuts out there. Reporter Courtenay Edelhart is there right now, and says there are two lines of people waiting to get into the store. One is 38 people deep.
Some people in line say they've waited five...
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A staffer found this How I spent My Stimulus site and urged me to share it.
There are some varied stories there — from the luxurious to the charitable to the meeting-basic-needs kind of stories.
— Christine Peterson
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This week's Longs Drugs ad says the store is now selling 90-day supplies of some generic prescriptions for $12.95, and 30-day supplies of some meds for $9.85.
Here's what they say, "If you have little or no prescripton coverage, the free Longs Wellness Partnership Card may be right for you....
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For the fourth year, Dreyer's is giving away 1,500 ice cream block parties across the country. They've given away 6,000 parties since starting the promotion.
They'll give you Slow Churned ice cream for 100 people and party supplies, too.
But first you have to tell the Dreyer's folks why your...
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Attention ice cream lovers — Longs Drugs is selling Dreyer's Ice Cream is $2.99 for a 1.5- to 1.75 quart container.
The sale runs through Saturday.
Where do you find the best ice cream for the best price?
— Christine Peterson
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If all you have is pocket change, Taco Bell is launching its "Why Pay More?" value menu on Thursday. It's to include 10 products, including four new items (Triple Layer Nacho, Melted Three Cheese Roll-Ups, Cheesy Double Beef Burrito and the Big Taste Taco) with prices at 79 cents, 89...
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Someone let me know about daily specials at the IHOP just off Buck Owens Boulevard.
For example, Tuesday is crepe day and for about $5.99 you can pick any crepe off the menu — and get an ice cream sundae.
I don't think any meal on the "specials" list hits $7, and some days...
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After my blog last week about a colleague sharing the joys of 99 cent and dollar stores, I pretty much had to go check one out.
So Sunday, I ventured to the 99 Cents Only store on Mount Vernon Avenue. The first thing that struck me? All the slips of paper flying around the parking lot. Seemed...
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I've never known much about 99 cent (or dollar) stores.
But today as I ate my boring lunch, a colleague basically told me I really haven't lived until I have taken some serious time to stroll the aisles of 99 cent stores. (Whatever. He says stuff like this.)
OK. Fine. What do they have that I...
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Albertsons has heavily advertised its plan to add a bonus to your economic stimulus check if you spend it there.
Check out the bottom of this flier.
I haven't found fliers for other stores that might be doing this yet — if you know of any, please add them here for other readers.
—...
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Moms and grandmas get in to the California Living Museum for half-price on Mother's Day.
Regular adult admission is $7, so on Sunday, it's $3.50 for them.
Check out the attached flier.
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Want some 'free' chicken?
McDonald's is offering free Southern Style Chicken Biscuits and Sandwiches at its 14,000 U.S. restaurants on Thursday, May 15.
Here's the deal: You have to buy a medium or large drink at a participating restaurant.
The offer's good from 7 to 10:30 a.m. for the...
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What woman does not like to receive beautiful flowers?
Here's a smattering of good buys for Mother's Day flowers:
• I was in the Albertson's on Mount Vernon Avenue last night. They had a rather large selection of bouquets and the flowers appeared nice and fresh. Bunches of five tulips were...
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Trying to convince us we're getting a break, Coke and Pepsi plan to roll out cheaper bottled sodas this summer, according to a USA Today story out today.
They're looking at charging 99 cents for 12- and 16-ounce bottles, rather than selling as many 20-ounce bottles.
So you get less but you...
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Wal-Mart is now offering 90-day supplies of some prescriptions for $10.
The offer applies to about 350 generic meds, according to the company Web site. The prices are offered at Wal-Mart, Neighborhood Market and Sam's Club pharmacies in the United States.
The list is long, and broken up by kind...
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In the past few days, I received a flier in my mailbox from Lowe's urging me to "update with your tax rebate."
It included two "Project Starter" cards, one for $10 off my next $50 purchase and one for $25 off my next $250 purchase.
Something tells me the $10 card is the...
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For anyone who's still planning a party for tonight — or just wants to get some basics at a cheap price — an Albertsons ad has some good coupons.
For example — four 12-packs of selected varieties of Coke, Pepsi and 7-Up products for $9, with a minimum $10 purchase on qualified...
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Yesterday I was at a department store to buy some shoes for summer. Specifically, I have been planning to buy some decent sandals to wear with skirts or shorts.
The ad in the Sunday paper had what I wanted — quality sandals for good prices — $19.99 or $29.99 or $49.99, depending on...
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In a tough economy, what do you say to kids? How do you explain to them that there won't be a fancy vacation this summer, or the cheap shoes rather than name-brand will have to do this summer?
Reporter Courtenay Edelhart delves into the topic in this story.
And she has plenty of tips for...
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One blogger's advice on where to eat if driving through Bakersfield mentions Logan's Roadhouse.
Has anyone seen this movie?
Talking of local restaurants, Arizona Cafe got a glowing review on Your Words. Read it here.
And our Cheapskate blog tells you where to get such deals as free burgers and...
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Participating Carl's Jr. restaurants in Bakersfield will offer a free single Western Bacon Cheeseburger with the purchase of any version of the Western Bacon Cheeseburger on Thursday, April 17, according to a Carl's news release and its Web site.
No word on which Bakersfield locations are in on...
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Food prices are going up, up and up while people are trying to keep their hard-earned money in their pockets for as long as possible.
Reporter Courtenay Edelhart found that schools are trying to control costs while keeping their commitment to healthy meals. Read more here.
And read her story on...
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Sonic is selling half-price fountain drinks and slushes from 2 to 4 p.m. each day in April
The drive-through's Web site says they're offering 168,894 drink combinations for half the cost.
There are at least 10 locations in Bakersfield and surrounding areas. Click here for maps.
—...
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Here's a money-saving tip from reporter Steven Mayer:
Did you know turning off your computer when it’s not in use can save the price of lunch for two at Valentien?
According to Overclockers.com, a high-end PC costs about $54 a month to keep powered up 24/7 — about 7.5 cents per...
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Evan Jones, a copy editor here at The Californian, offers these tips for low-cost and no-cost filing of tax returns:
If you’re the type who has done your own taxes and you like to keep things simple, instead of using TurboTax or an overpriced tax preparer, go to the IRS Web site and use...
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I received my new Newsweek in the mail last night and found something interesting.
Inside the front cover, there was an ad/freebie. It said to seperate the cover of the magazine from the remainder, fold it into an envelope with tape on the sides, stuff it with old Target plastic bags and mail it...
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I've had occasion to dine out a lot lately.
Imagine my shock at what some local eateries are charging for soda.
$2.39? Yes, you read that correctly. $2.39 for soda. And yes, refills were included ... but nobody came by to offer one to me, so does that really count?
The day before I paid $1.99...
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I've seen at least two television news reports lately about haggling at big-box and department stores.
Really? This actually happens?
The essence of the reports was that in these tough economic times, you'd be surprised how many store owners and managers are willing to bargain on price.
...
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This find is reported by Reid Kanaley of The Philadelphia Inquirer.
Here's what he writes in a tip sheet out this week:
"Jeff Ostroff, a “self-proclaimed consumer advocate,” says he intends his Web site to help a car buyer save $2,000 on a purchase (though testimonials claim...
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Some shopping tips from Mary Lou Fulton, a vice president here at The Californian:
I'm a big fan of 99 Cent stores. I was there last night (Columbus and Mt Vernon location) and they have tons of stuff for Easter baskets you can make on the cheap: baskets in a variety of colors, the fake...
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A colleague took her lunch break and landed at Timeless Furnishings.
Her mission? Find a bed.
She reports she got one at 50 percent off the regular price and got a quality mattress and box spring.
Lots of stuff is on sale, she said. The store's at 1918 Chester Ave.
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Yikes! Gas prices have soared to an all-time high, with a nationwide average of nearly $3.23 a gallon.
How much more can we take?
There was a day in the not-too-distant past when a $20 bill filled up my much-loved Saturn.
Now? Last week, driving back to Bakersfield from Los Angeles, I needed...
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It's been three months, you notice. Time for an oil change for the old set of wheels.
Where's the cheapest place with good service? Where can you get the job done fast?
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