Blog

Daily Steals In Your Area

So many of these group buying websites have appeared lately it's hard to keep track of. In the meantime, it's a good idea to subscribe to the following websites. I'll continue to update this article as I see newer deals and might better describe the differences between each site as well as post my purchases so you have an idea of what kind of daily deals each site might feature.

If this information's been at all useful to you, please do use the links below to open in a new window and sign up for FREE - I'll get a referral bonus, and in some cases, you might get one too!

 

• GROUPON

Offers: A huge range of deals of higher quality goods at ridiculously low prices - including hotels, meals, local bakeries, chocolates, massages, facials, laser hair removal, car detailing, and more.

Purchased: 75% off laser hair removal, 50% off local restaurants, $1 yoga classes, $38.50 facial, $38.50 massage, $39 1 hour chiropractor

• CITYDEALS

Offers: Half off movie tickets for AMC and Cinemark, gift cards for popular national chains.

• BLOOMSPOT

Offers: Luxury. A huge range of incredible deals for higher end things such as hotels, meals, massages, facials, and more.

Purchased: 2 facials, 1 night at Intercontinental (includes 7 course tasting at a Michelin starred restaurant for 2 + $100 spa voucher), 50% off dinner

• EVERSAVE

Use this LINK and earn $5 towards your first purchase.

Purchased: Coffee Cake

• BERGINE

Offers: Luxury. A huge range of incredible deals for higher end things such as hotels, meals, massages, facials, and more.

• GILTCITY

Use this LINK to gain access to the site - you need an invite to join!

Offers: Luxury. Example: Venetian Las Vegas, Marni Accessories, European getaways.

• LIVINGSOCIAL

Use this LINK and earn $5 towards your first purchase.

Offers: A huge range of deals from meals, local bakeries, chocolates, massages, facials, car detailing, and more.

Purchased: 50% off dinner+drinks, 4 Limo Rides

• FRESHGUIDE

Offers: A huge range of deals from meals, massages, facials, and more.

• HOMERUN

Offers: A huge range of deals from meals, massages, facials, and more.

Purchased: $1 for full day at business center/meeting space, FREE dance class

• TOWNHOG

Offers: A huge range of deals from meals, massages, facials, and more.

• SOCIALBUY

Offers: A huge range of deals from meals, drinks, massages, tickets, and more.

Purchased: $10 for $40 of drinks at the Melting Pot.

• PLUM DISTRICT

Use this LINK and earn $5 towards your first purchase.

Offers: A huge range of deals from hotels, meals, local bakeries, chocolates, massages, facials, car detailing, and more. Slightly more high end.

• KGBDEALS

Purchased: $4 AMC Movie Tickets

• SAVVY AVENUE

Offers: A huge range of deals from meals, massages, facials, and more.

• ADILITY DEAL

Offers: A huge range of deals, though frequently for things that aren't as popular.

Purchased: $21.99 for 4 rounds of mini golf + 50 tokens + more

• BUYWITHME

Offers:

• TIPPR [As of 09/18/10, a lot of major cities weren't included yet.]

Offers:

• JUICE IN THE CITY [As of 09/18/10, a lot of major cities weren't included yet.]

Offers:

• STEALTHEDEAL [Catered towards the Canadian market.]

Offers:

 

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THE FOLLOWING TEND TO BE MORE GOODS-ORIENTED THAN SERVICE

 

• IDEELI

Use this LINK to gain access to the site - you need an invite to join!

More for shopping and finding special deals on goods than services.

• RUE LA LA

More for shopping and finding special deals on goods than services.

• WOOT

More for shopping and finding special deals on goods than services.

 

Five Finger Rule

My version of the five single rule states never to shop online without doing all five things:

 

1. Search for your item on http://shopping.google.com [About 5+ years ago, I used primarily http://shopping.com to compare prices, but Google's is pretty complete as well.]

2. Sort by price - Low to High. [Weeding out irrelevant results shouldn't be too much trouble..]

3. If there are multiple options at the lowest price, prioritize the online stores that aren't located in your state to avoid paying an additional 10% (ish) on sales tax.

4. Visit MrRebates to make sure you earn a cash rebate on your purchase. [Please use this URL so my broke self can earn a referral bonus + as of the time this article was written, you earn $5 just for joining! *psst* It's free.]

5. Check RetailMeNot for coupons and promotional codes to save on shipping or get additional discounts. [Sometimes, MrRebates won't grant you rebates if you try to combine it with other offers - read the fine print to make sure! However, they'll usually feature the same coupons on their site as well - if you shop through their link, you'll be able to use the promotional code AND still earn a cash rebate on your purchase!]

 

 

My Dining Experiences

Our resident recessionist is still in the middle of developing this area + taking an extra week or two to hang out with family and friends in Indonesia. Do come back after the 1st of October.

In the meantime, a link to a bit of internet meme to reminisce with:

Subservient Chicken

Tips: "do the ymca," "fight," "shakespeare," "cartwheel"

 

The Michelins

Our resident recessionist is still in the middle of developing this area + taking an extra week or two to hang out with family and friends in Indonesia. Do come back after the 1st of October.

In the meantime, a link to a bit of internet meme to reminisce with:

Subservient Chicken

Tips: "do the ymca," "fight," "shakespeare," "cartwheel"

 

Double / Triple Dipping

Our resident recessionist is still in the middle of developing this area + taking an extra week or two to hang out with family and friends in Indonesia. Do come back after the 1st of October.

In the meantime, a link to a bit of internet meme to reminisce with:

Subservient Chicken

Tips: "do the ymca," "fight," "shakespeare," "cartwheel"

 

Save Up To 75% Off Meals

THE THREE ESSENTIAL WEBSITES FOR ANY FOODIE ON A BUDGET

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Other than scouting the list of sites that offer DAILY DEALS, another great way to minimize the cost of your meals include:

Restaurant.com

At least once a month, restaurant.com features an 80% off special, allowing you to get a $25 gift certificate for as low as $2. Of course, most restaurants will add a clause - you'll be required to spend at least $35 (or in some cases $50) and this usually excludes alcohol, lunch, and dinner on Friday/Saturday. Read the fine print!

OpenTable.com

Search the database for restaurants that have 1,000 point dining times. 1,000 points is the equivalent of $10 in Dining Credit applicable at any OpenTable restaurant (and there are plenty!), though you'll need a minimum of 2,000 points to get your gift card.

Yelp.com

And this, of course, is where you go to make sure you're not going to be wasting the cash and the calories on a mediocre meal.

 

HOW TO WEED OUT THE GOOD FROM THE QUESTIONABLE

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The hardest part is searching the long list of restaurant.com patrons for restaurants that are actually good. Here's where Yelp comes in.

1. Cross-check with Yelp which restaurants are highly rated. (I usually go for restaurants that are 4*, and a few that are 3.5* if the reviews seem slightly biased, focus more on service instead of the food, or if they seem to serve at least 2-3 dishes which are consistently complimented.
2. Read the fine print (the terms and conditions) for the restaurant(s) you're interested in going to. You'll notice that there's always a minimum order requirement and there's frequently limitations on mealtimes as well as days applicable.
3. Check the menu to check the average cost of a meal there to calculate how much you'll be expected to pay.

Of course, you could always wing it and try out a restaurant without checking Yelp first. [1.] It's quite possible that you might not share the same opinion as everyone else and [2.] they could've made changes to their chef/menu since the less appealing reviews.

The Short-Cut

The results with this method are usually minimal and rather incomplete..

1. Visit Yelp and input your destination zip code under "Location."

2. Search for http://restaurant.com.

 

DOUBLE / TRIPLE DIPPING

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Every once in a while, you'll find a restaurant that offers a $25 gift certificate on Restaurant.com AND earns you 1,000 points by making your reservation at OpenTable.com.

If you're the type to collect airline miles, you may even find some that earns you bonus points through your airline's dining program (E.g. SkyMiles Dining).

For those of you in the Bay Area, I've already done the above steps for you and saved you the trouble of looking. The restaurant.com gift certificates I've purchased are listed HERE.

 

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PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE DON'T BE A TIGHTWAD AND FORGET TO TIP BASED ON THE TOTAL AMOUNT ON YOUR BILL AND NOT JUST THE ADDITIONAL AMOUNT YOU HAVE TO PAY WHEN YOU USE ANY OF THE ABOVE METHODS. KEEP IN MIND THAT IN SOME PLACES, SERVERS EARN AS LITTLE AS $2.25 AN HOUR AND RELY COMPLETELY ON GRATUITIES TO EARN A LIVING.

While tipping etiquette may vary worldwide, in the U.S. it's 10% for poor to mediocre service, 15% for average service, and 20% [or more] for superior service.

Also, write a review. Most restaurants who participate in these programs do so to better advertise their business. If it's a good review, it'll bring them more business and keep them afloat - and if it's not, God knows they need to hear it so they can decide whether or not to do something about it.

My Past + Upcoming Shows

• .:: CIRQUES ::.

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MYSTERE - 05/07 | Las Vegas

LE REVE - 05/07 | Las Vegas

KA - 02/04/09 | Las Vegas

ZUMANITY - 02/04/09 | Las Vegas

LE REVE - 02/06/09 | Las Vegas

O - 02/06/09 | Las Vegas

LOVE - 06/25/09 | Las Vegas

O - 01/15/10 | Las Vegas

OVO - 01/23/10 | San Francisco

BALAGAN - 07/24/10 | Jakarta

 

• .:: THEATRE ::.

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LES MISERABLES - 08/07 | London

WICKED - 08/07 | London

PHANTOM OF THE OPERA - 08/07 | London

RENT - 10/15/07 | Nederlander, New York

THE DROWSY CHAPERONE - 10/16/07 | New York

A CHORUS LINE - 10/17/07 | New York

HAIRSPRAY - 10/17/07 | New York

THE COLOR PURPLE - 10/18/07 | New York

ALL MY SONS - 01/04/09 | New York

IN THE HEIGHTS - 01/04/09 | New York

PHANTOM - 02/02/09 | Las Vegas

JERSEY BOYS - 02/03/09 | Las Vegas

NEXT TO NORMAL - 06/06/09 | New York

MAMMA MIA! - 06/06/09 | New York

RENT - 10/22/09 | Costa Mesa

SPRING AWAKENING - 11/28/09 | Costa Mesa

WICKED - 11/11/09 | San Francisco

THE LION KING - 01/14/10 | Las Vegas

BANANA SHPEEL - 11/12/10 | San Francisco

 

• .:: COMEDY ::.

RUSSELL PETERS  - 10/07/06 | Singapore

JESSICA KIRSON - 06/05/09 | New York [$25.94]

JAMIE KILSTEIN - 01/16/10 | San Francisco [$24.90] +

REGGIE WATTS - 01/16/10 | San Francisco [ ^ ]

EDDIE GRIFFIN - 02/19/10 | San Francisco [$54.15]

BILL MAHER - 04/02/10 | Santa Rosa [$76.67]

BEN FELDMAN - 09/30/10 | Oakland

JIMMY DORE - 10/06/10 | San Francisco

THE SKLAR BROTHERS - 10/13/10 | San Francisco

AZIZ ANSARI - 10/21/10 | San Francisco

NICK KROLL - 10/22/10 | San Francisco [$13]

SHAWN + MARLON WAYANS - 10/24/10 | SF [$46.05]

CHRIS PORTER - 10/27/10 | San Francisco [$5.50]

MARC MARON - 11/11/10 | San Francisco [$10.50]

RUSSELL PETERS - 11/14/10 | San Jose [$ 82.10]

MARGARET CHO - 12/04/10 | San Francisco [$41.50]

 

• .:: CONCERTS ::.

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ALANIS MORISSETTE - 01/11/99 | Jakarta

FOO FIGHTERS - 1995 | Jakarta

BEASTIE BOYS - 1995 | Jakarta [ ^ ]

SONIC YOUTH - 1995 | Jakarta [ ^ ]

KINGS OF CONVENIENCE - 03/18/06 | Jakarta

TIESTO - 04/22/06 | Jakarta

SARAH BRIGHTMAN - 03/10/09 | Jakarta

NOUVELLE VAGUE - 02/07/10 | San Francisco

ZEE AVI - 02/25/10 | San Francisco

JOHN MAYER - 03/26/10 | San Jose

MICHAEL BUBLE - 04/06/10 | Oakland

TIESTO - 04/11/10 | San Francisco

SIA - 04/14/10 | San Francisco

CORINNE BAILEY RAE - 04/15/10 | San Francisco

YANN TIERSEN - 04/16/10 | Santa Cruz

GOTAN PROJECT - 10/03/10 | San Francisco

COCOROSIE - 10/05/10 | San Francisco

M.I.A. - 10/12/10 | Oakland

JONSI - 10/19/10 | Oakland - $46.58

INGRID MICHAELSON - 11/01/10 | San Francisco

FLORENCE + THE MACHINE - 11/05/10 | Oakland

MASSIVE ATTACK - 11/06/10 | Berkeley

THIEVERY CORPORATION - 11/06/10 | Berkeley [ ^ ]

BLONDE REDHEAD - 11/19/10 | San Francisco

 

• .:: DANCE ::.

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WADE ROBSON AT OVERDRIVE - 10/13/06 | Singapore

BURN THE FLOOR - 09/26/10 | San Jose [$42.75]

SMUIN BALLET PROGRAM - 10/08/10 | San Francisco

SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE - 11/10/10 | San Jose

SAN FRANCISCO BALLET'S NUTCRACKER - 12/10/10

 

• .:: EVENTS ::.

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ZEE CINE AWARDS '07 - 04/01/07 | Malaysia*

TASTE OF PIGS & PINOT - 03/19/10 | Wine Country

 

Broadway For Less

Our resident recessionist is still in the middle of developing this area + taking an extra week or two to hang out with family and friends in Indonesia. Do come back after the 1st of October.

In the meantime, a link to a bit of internet meme to reminisce with:

Subservient Chicken

Tips: "do the ymca," "fight," "shakespeare," "cartwheel"

 

Fun For Free

Our resident recessionist is still in the middle of developing this area + taking an extra week or two to hang out with family and friends in Indonesia. Do come back after the 1st of October.

In the meantime, a link to a bit of internet meme to reminisce with:

Subservient Chicken

Tips: "do the ymca," "fight," "shakespeare," "cartwheel"

 

My Itineraries

Our resident recessionist is still in the middle of developing this area + taking an extra week or two to hang out with family and friends in Indonesia. Do come back after the 1st of October.

In the meantime, a link to a bit of internet meme to reminisce with:

Subservient Chicken

Tips: "do the ymca," "fight," "shakespeare," "cartwheel"