Coupons to California Attractions

If you're planning to visit any of the below attractions during your holiday vacation (or anytime during the year), be sure to print out these coupons available on the Visit California site.

Madame Tussaud's Hollywood - $5.00 off child/adult admission
Catalina Express - $7.50 off adult round-trip ticket
Six Flags Magic Mountain - $20.00 off your admission
The Queen Mary - $10.00 off general admission
Universal Studios Hollywood - $8.00 off general admission
Warner Bros. Studios VIP Tour - $5.00 off admission to VIP Tour

If you're traveling to San Diego, San Francisco or other major cities in CA, check the Visit California site for coupons to attractions in those cities, as well.

Free Fresco Taco at Taco Bell

Taco Bell fans will love this...

Click here to get a coupon for a free Fresco Taco at Taco Bell. There are 1 million available, so print yours soon if you think you'll use it. The coupon must be used within 7 days of when you print it.

Restaurant.com Deal Thru 12/31

Restaurant.com is offering a great deal through the end of the year. Here are the details:

Purchase a $25 gift certificate for $2 when you enter the code CHEER at checkout, by December 31, 2009. Additionally, within 24 hours, you'll receive an email from Restaurant.com with a code for a FREE $10 gift certificate that you can redeem on the site at the restaurant of your choice. (I just bought a $25 gift certificate for $2 using the CHEER code, and my free $10 gift code arrived via email within minutes.)

If you're not yet familiar with Restaurant.com, read my previous post here. Many restaurants in LA participate on the site, and sales like this are a great way to enjoy a nice discount on your next eating out experience.

50% Off at Urban Outfitters, 12/26-27

CONFIRMED: I just spoke with Urban Outfitters corporate to confirm their weekend sale details. Urban Outfitters stores are hosting an after-Christmas sale this weekend with an extra 50% off on select items throughout the store, including items previously already on sale. You can often pick up some good finds in the sale section, so this could be a nice deal. The sale runs in-stores Saturday, December 26 and Sunday, December 27 only.

Click here to find the Urban Outfitters location near you.

LA's 50th Annual Holiday Celebration on 12/24

Free Holiday Event Alert!

Thursday, December 24, 2009 -- 3-9pm
Dorothy Chandler Pavilion

This six-hour, Emmy-nominated event is L.A.'s biggest holiday show - and it's free (thanks to the LA County Board of Supervisors). You can attend in-person, or watch it broadcast live from the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion on KCET-TV or via live streaming online at KCET.org.

The Holiday Celebration features music and dance from more than 40 groups chosen to perform and who represent the many neighborhoods and cultures of Los Angeles.

Parking under the Music Center is free. Reservations for tickets to the show or parking are not necessary. You can come and go as you like during the six hours. Doors open at 2:00 p.m. Click here to visit the event site for more information.

Charles David Shoe Sale: 65% Off On 12/23 Only

I love shoes (as you've probably gathered by now), and Charles David is one of my turn-to brands. Their shoes are well-made, stylish and unique. While I try not to spend too much on shoes, when I splurge, it's usually for a pair (on sale, of course) by Nicole Miller, Cole Haan or Charles David.

On Wednesday, December 23, all Charles David shoes and handbags will be marked down by 65% on 6pm.com. Click here to browse the available styles on the site. It's a 1-day-only sale.

Free $4.00 Video on Demand Credit at Amazon

Watch your next movie free, thanks to Amazon Video on Demand. Amazon is offering a $4.00 Video on Demand credit for free, through January 3, 2010.

Click here to head to Amazon's Video on Demand page. Click on the movie you'd like to watch. New releases are $2.99 and there are a lot of older films available for 99 cents.

Once you've clicked on the movie you'd like to watch, you'll see a button in the bottom of the video player that asks if you have a promotion code to redeem. Enter AVODGIFT and the movie's on Amazon!

{I've heard that the $4.00 credit is deposited in your Amazon account and that you can use it until it's gone, meaning you can watch several 99 cent movies for free. If you do this and it works for you, I'd love to hear!}

Free Coffee & Tea at Peet's on 12/24

Peet's Coffee & Tea is serving FREE brewed coffee and tea all day on December 24. Here are the details directly from the Peet's web site:

Please join us December 17-24 in support of non-profit organizations in our local communities. Each store has chosen a non-profit organization to be the recipient of its fundraising efforts and Peet’s matches up to $1,000 of the customer contributions collected in each store.

On Thursday, December 24th we will serve complimentary brewed coffee and tea all day as a way to thank you for supporting our communities.

Click here to find the Peet's Coffee & Tea near you. There are a lot of locations in the LA area (and beyond).

40% Off 1 Item at Michael's Thru 12/31

Michael's has a 40% off 1 regularly-priced item coupon, good through December 31, 2009. Click here to print it.

Michael's is a great place to buy picture frames, creative supplies (for adults and kids), and other home DIY project materials.

Click here to find the Michael's near you.

Dinner for Two at P.F. Chang's for $39

P.F. Chang's has a special prix fixe menu for two. For $39, you and a dining companion can enjoy:

2 cups of soup
1 appetizer
2 entrees
2 mini desserts

Drinks and gratuity are extra. Click here to see the "Chang's for Two" menu selections.

This deal is available for a limited time, although P.F. Chang's doesn't say when it will expire. I'll update this post when I hear of an expiration date. Click here to find the P.F. Chang's near you. There are many in the LA area (and beyond).

Free Aveda Products

In partnership with Marie Claire, Aveda is offering customers a free three-piece sample pack of its Smooth Infusion Shampoo, Conditioner and Style-Prep Smoother.

Print this and take it into your local Aveda store to get your free sample. One coupon per person, while supplies last at participating Aveda salons, spas and stores only. The coupon expires December 31, 2009, at 11:59 pm EST. (It's worth a call ahead to make sure your local Aveda store still has free samples left.)

Click here to find the Aveda store near you.

Car Wash Discounts

If you're like most Angelenos, a visit to the car wash is a regular expense (unless you use your garden hose at home, of course, but then you're still paying for water, soap, wax, etc). There are plenty of DIY car washes around town that will enable you to wash, scrub and rinse your car for under $5.

If you're looking to have someone else handle it entirely, don't pay full price! There are plenty of car wash coupons out there. Here are the ones I've found so far. Click through to the coupon links to print your coupon. You'll need it to get the deals below.  Note: most of these coupons expire 1/4/2010.

Sherman Oaks Car Wash
15150 Ventura Blvd
Coupon: Express Car Wash (drive-thru) for $3.99 or Hand-Wash for $6.99

Tri-Star Car Wash (Van Nuys / Sherman Oaks)
6344 Sepulveda Blvd
Coupon: Full Service Cash Wash & Sealer Wax for $7.99

Encino Auto Spa
17661 Ventura Blvd
Coupon: Express Car Wash (drive-thru) for $3.99 or Hand-Wash for $6.99

Millenium Car Wash (Venice)
2454 Lincoln Blvd (between Venice & Washington)
Coupon: Basic Wash with Sealer Wax for $11.99

Playa Vista Car Wash (Culver City)
6900 Centinela Ave
Coupon: Express Exterior Wash for $7.99 or Hand Wash & Spray Wax for $14.99

Royal Car Wash
431 N. La Cienega Blvd (between Beverly & Melrose)
Coupon: Full Service Wash & Sealer Wax for $9.99

Robertson Car Wash
2460 S. Roberston Blvd
Coupon: Wash & Wax for $9.99

Magnolia Hand Car Wash
910 Magnolia Blvd
Coupon: Hand Wash & Polish Wax for $8.99

Sunset Car Wash
7955 Sunset Blvd (near Fairfax)
Coupon: Full Service Car Wash & Spray Wax for $9.99

Torrance Car Wash
2476 Sepulveda Blvd
Coupon: Exterior Car Wash for $5.99

If you know of other car wash deals, please email me or leave a comment below.

{Image credit: OlgaKay}

Free 10-Day Supply of Bare Escentuals Foundation at Sephora

Sephora is offering a new freebie: a 10-day supply of Bare Escentuals mineral foundation and mini-brush.

There are two ways to get the deal:

1) Online - free with any order. Enter BERARE at checkout for the original formulation or BEMATTE for the matte foundation.

2) In-store - free, just ask! If you read the fine print here, it clearly says "valid online with any merchandise order, or free in stores (no purchase required)." I would recommend that you print the offer and bring it with you, just in case. Sometimes store staff aren't aware of corporate promotions, especially those promoted online.

Enjoy!

Dunkin Donuts Advisory Panel Opportunity

Dunkin Donuts is inviting its frequent customers (those who visit at least once a week) to participate on its Dunkin Advisory Panel.

Here's the description straight from Dunkin Donuts:

The Dunkin' Advisory Panel is a dynamic community of Dunkin' Donuts' best customers who will be asked to provide candid opinions on a variety of topics related to Dunkin' Donuts. As a member of the panel, you will receive invitations to participate in on-line surveys and discussion groups.

In exchange, panelists (a.k.a. Dunkin' VIPs) will be among the first to see new advertising campaigns, learn about new products, and receive valuable rewards like Dunkin' Donuts Cards or Dunkin’ Donuts Gift Certificates.

Participation is always 100% voluntary, and all information provided to us remains confidential. Your feedback will be tremendously valuable to Dunkin' Donuts and our future offerings.

If you're interested, click here to see if you qualify and to sign up.

Banana Republic Deal Thru 12/25

Banana Republic is offering some great deals in-store right now. Here's the scoop:

Many items in the store are marked down by up to 40%. (Check the clearance section for steeper markdowns.) In addition to the discounted prices, when you spend at least $100 on anything in the store (sale items included), you'll receive a $25 Banana Republic gift card to spend in January 2010. This $25 gift card promotion runs only through December 25, 2009. Not a bad deal if you have time to hit the stores this week!

Confirmed: Free Mini-Burgers at Morton's Tonight

Morton's Steakhouse is celebrating its 31st anniversary and tonight from 5:00-6:00 p.m. you can enjoy FREE mini-burgers at any Morton's bar in the country. I called a couple Morton's in LA to confirm, and yep, it's true!

Here in LA, there are several locations:

Beverly Hills
Downtown LA
Burbank
Woodland Hills
Anaheim

Click here to find the location nearest you.

UPDATED (tip thanks to SauceLA):

After you get your mini-burgers at Morton's, head over to The Lazy Ox Canteen (also downtown) where they're holding a 5 for $5 Happy Hour tonight between 5:00 - 7:00 p.m.

Five of their menu items are marked down to $5. Tonight, those items include their chicken liver appetizer, house red wine, house white wine, Kennebac fries and one other item (I don't have info on the fifth, sorry).

Between Morton's and The Lazy Ox Canteen, you could fill up on great food at a very decent price tonight!

Jetsetter Update

For those of you interested in the $50 credit for signing up at Jetsetter, I have an update courtesy of a reader.

The $50 credit is only applied if you are emailed a invitation, not if you click on the "Refer a Friend" link. I misunderstood Jetsetter's offer (I interpreted it to be refer-a-friend and they get the $50 credit), and you have my sincere apologies.

If you would like to sign up to get the $50 credit, I'd be happy to email you the invite. Just email me at greatdealsla@gmail.com to let me know. If you already signed up, you would need to sign up with a different email address to get the credit. Again, my apologies that I misunderstood the offer and then miscommunicated it to you. A huge thanks to the reader who discovered this and emailed me about it.

Free Sausage Biscuit at Waffle House, Thru 1/8/10

Sadly there are no Waffle Houses in Los Angeles, but if you have friends in other cities who are interested, please pass along this deal!

Get a free sausage biscuit at Waffle Houses nationwide with this coupon, which expires January 8, 2010. To search for the Waffle House nearest you, click here.

If you're looking for inexpensive, great diner food in LA, I recommend Rae's Diner on Pico Blvd at 29th Street. Breakfast and a cup of coffee will run you less than $6, and it's delicious!

Thanks, Common Sense With Money, for the tip!

$25 Gift Certificates for $2 at Restaurant.com, Thru 12/25

Restaurant.com is offering its 80% off deal again. Thru Friday, December 25, 2009 you can get a $25 gift certificate to the local restaurant of your choice for just $2. Enter SANTA at checkout to get the deal.

There are a lot of participating restaurants in the LA area (and beyond). Click here and type in your zip code to do a search.

Last-Minute Gift Idea: Shop Local on Etsy

Etsy is one of those sites that leaves me utterly inspired. It's a marketplace for designers from around the world to sell their handmade wares. From clothing to jewelry to home decor, you'll find literally thousands (perhaps millions?) of items to select from and all are one-of-a-kind.

If you're in need of some last-minute gifts and are looking for something truly unique and special, here's an idea: shop local on Etsy. Click here and type in your city. The results that pop up will be all the designers located in your area. Browse their items and if you find something you just have to have, contact the seller and see if you can arrange for local delivery or perhaps even pick it up in-person.

{Image: Vinyl wall graphic by Simple Shapes}

Reminder: Free Drink at 7-Eleven Thru Dec. 31

Don't forget that you can pick up free coffee daily at 7-Eleven through the end of the year (expires December 31, 2009).

The coupon is good for one free drink (coffee, cappuccino, tea, or hot chocolate). Click here to print yours. One coupon needed per day, so go ahead and print out a few to get you through the holiday.

How I Save on Travel

This weekend, I booked a mini-vacation to a 5-star resort. Not only am I excited to get away for a few days, but I'm so excited about the deal I got!

Airfare for two + 3 nights in a suite at a luxury hotel on Conde Nast's Top 10 Favorites list was practically free. Booking this trip reminded me that I have not yet shared my turn-to travel sites and loyalty programs with you yet.

Here's the scoop.

How I get free airfare: I have a Delta American Express credit card that over time has proven to churn out lots of free airline tickets. I say over time because you do need to accumulate points first, and then as you move up your status as a Delta Medallion member, bonus points (and upgrades) are easier to come by. I've had my AMEX since 2005, and now I probably only pay for 1 out of every 3 flights I take. I charge absolutely every expense possible to my card to get points. {I pay my credit card off IN FULL every month. No rewards program is worth any amount of credit card debt!}

How I get free hotel rooms: Last year I discovered the Hotels.com Welcome Rewards program and I'm hooked! For every 10 nights you stay at a hotel booked through the site, you earn 1 night (up to $400) free at any property, anywhere. Here's an example: let's say you go visit family, attend a wedding, or have a quick trip for work and are able to book your own travel. You stay at a $100/night hotel for 2 nights. For that stay, you earn 2 Welcome Rewards points. Travel enough, and you'll quickly get up to 10 Welcome Rewards points, which earns you 1 free night. Use your free night to stay at a Ritz Carlton or somewhere amazing!Oh, and this is important: I find that almost always, I find the lowest prices on hotel rooms at Hotels.com, so in my mind, this site is a double win!

Another site that gets you luxury hotels for less: Last month, I wrote about the launch of Jetsetter, a site that offers limited-time, huge-price-reduction deals on luxury hotels around the world. I haven't yet booked through the site, although it's now on my short-list of places to find travel deals. Click here to read about it.

Although these programs are the ones that work for me, I know there are other ways to earn free travel. If you have other tips, I'd love to hear from you.

Deals: Week of 12/21

There are a number of new deals available this week, so I'm rounding them up into one post. If you still have holiday shopping to complete, you don't need to pay full price! There are plenty of savings opportunities.

Here we go...

Nine West shoes and jewelry are marked down to $29.95 at 6pm.com through December 27.

New Balance footwear and apparel is marked down by 60% at 6pm.com through December 25. 

Old Navy offers another 30% off 1 item coupon, good through December 24. Click here to print yours.

Saks Fifth Avenue offers free expedited shipping on all online orders placed by December 23. Use code HOLIDAY9 at checkout.

Staples offers a 10% off 1 item coupon good through December 26. There are some restrictions, so check the fine print. Click here to print yours.

Kenneth Cole offers 40% off your entire online order through December 24. Enter FAN40 at checkout.

Entertainment Weekly and InStyle are on sale with a 1-year subscription for $10. Click here for details.

Gap offers 20% off your entire purchase with this coupon. It expires January 30, 2010.

Free Bagel Poppers Thru 12/29

Einstein Bros. Bagels is offering a free container of bagel poppers when you purchase a beverage. You'll need to print this coupon and use it by December 29, 2009.

I've never had bagel poppers before. They look like donut holes, but a bagel, of course. If you've tried bagel poppers before and recommend them, please let me know by leaving a comment below.

Click here to find the Einstein Bros. location nearest you. In the LA area, there are two locations in the OC, and one in East Los Angeles.

$10 Magazine Titles at Amazon

The magazine deals just keep coming!

This week, Amazon is offering Entertainment Weekly and InStyle Magazine 1-year subscriptions for $10. This is a good deal as these titles rarely get marked down this low.

Click here to get the deal.

40% Off Kenneth Cole Thru 12/24

I was so excited today to find this discount as a certain someone in my house loves Kenneth Cole shoes.

Through December 24, get 40% off at Kenneth Cole (online only) when you enter FAN40 at checkout. I tried it, and it works even on sale items!
 

20% Off 1 Item at Pottery Barn This Weekend

Pottery Barn has a coupon out that's good this weekend only. Use it to receive 20% off any 1 item in the store.

Whether you're looking for a big-ticket item or something more affordable, this coupon could come in handy! Click here to print your coupon. Click here to see the "Under $25" gift ideas at Pottery Barn. There are some nice last-minute and stocking stuffer ideas!

Other savings ideas this weekend:

• 80% off Stuart Weitzman shoes (through Sunday) - click here for details
• $10 off a $30 (or more) purchase at World Market (through Sunday) - click here for coupon
• 30% off 1 item at Old Navy (through today, Saturday) - click here for coupon
• 20% off your entire purchase at GAP (expires January 2010) - click here for coupon
  

Glee Soundtrack Giveaway Winners

And the winners of the Glee soundtrack downloads are...

Carrie & Rhea

Please email me greatdealsla (at) gmail.com so I can send you a $12.99 Amazon.com credit. You can apply it towards the Glee soundtrack of your choice (or any other album).

Thanks for sharing your ideas on places to find a good bargain in LA!

80% Off Stuart Weitzman Thru 12/20

6pm.com is having an amazing sale on Stuart Weitzman shoes this weekend with 80% off retail prices. More than 288 styles are included. There are a number of shoes marked down below $60 (original prices: $300-$700)!

Check it out here. The sale runs through Sunday night.

Join Universal Pictures' Sneak Previews Club

I've been sharing a number of free movie screening opportunities lately (usually via Twitter since the tickets go so quickly). While I'll continue to share last-minute finds, if you're a fan of attending free sneak previews (and who isn't?), now you can sign up to join Universal Pictures' Sneak Previews Club. When the studio is hosting a sneak preview near you for a genre of film you're interested in, they'll let you know.

Click here to sign-up.

Nearly Free Gift Wrap Ideas

If you're planning to wrap gifts this weekend, here are a few ideas on ways to cut costs, reduce waste (most glossy gift wrap is not recyclable) and do something a little unexpected.

Also be sure to check out this collection of free printable gift tags (you could even pair some of these with brown paper to create a stylishly wrapped gift).

Foreign Newspapers
Visit your local newsstand and purchase a few foreign-language newspapers. This is a twist on the old "newspaper gift wrap" idea. Wrap a colorful band of paper around the box to finish the presentation. (Image credit: MarthaStewart.com)






Newspaper Bloom
Not feeling the foreign newspaper idea? Use the LA Times and add a blossoming topper. Learn how to create it by reading this post on Country Living. (Image credit: Country Living)





Sheet Music
You can find plenty of free sheet music online (or perhaps you have old sheet music around your house?) Use it as wrapping paper and add some colorful ribbon. (Image credit: Country Living)





 Brown Paper & Ribbon
A roll of brown paper (recyclable!) is very inexpensive. Add a unique yet simple ribbon design like the one at left, and you're all set. (Image credit: Country Living)




Fashion or Lifestyle Magazine Pages
If you have old issues of fashion, travel, or lifestyle magazines laying around, you're in luck! Tear out colorful ads and turn them into wrapping paper. (Image credit: Greenopolis.com)

$10 Off $30 Purchase at World Market Thru 12/20

World Market has a coupon good for $10 off a purchase of $30 (or more) in-store. Click here to get it. The coupon expires Sunday, December 20, 2009. It says the discount is valid towards the "current selling price," which should mean sale items are included.

You can visit the World Market store locator here.

Sales & Free Breakfast at IKEA, 12/26-1/3

Save the champagne for the day after Christmas...IKEA is hosting a blow-out sale December 26 through January 3. On the 26th, champagne flutes will be on sale for $0.25 each! (You may want to load up if you're hosting a New Year's party, although there's a limit of 6 per person, so bring your family/friends so you each buy six.)

Each day, a different item will be drastically marked down. IKEA is also offering free breakfast daily (12/26-1/3) until 11:00 a.m., and kids eat free all day!

Click here to see the sale line-up.

Holiday Grocery Savings

If you're stocking up on groceries to get you through the holidays, there are deals to be had! Be sure to use your grocery's rewards card to take advantage of savings the store is offering.

And, manufacturers have just released more deals. Think you're not a couponer? Read my Grocery Coupons 101 post for some quick tips (and ways to use coupons without having to print, cut out or look like you're actually using coupons).

Ok, on to the new deals:

Head to Cellfire where you can load coupons directly onto your grocery rewards card. No printing, cutting, or actual "couponing" required. When you swipe your card at grocery checkout, the coupons will automatically apply towards your total. New coupons include:

Nestle Toll House Chocolate Chips - $0.50
Cheerio's - $0.55
Nature's Valley Granola Bars - $0.40
Pillsbury Crescent Rolls - $0.50
Progresso Soup - $0.50
Any Curel product - $1.00
Jergen's lotion - $1.00

Head to Coupons.com where you can print the deals you're interested in. (Most groceries, including Ralph's and Pavilions, will double coupons that are under $1 in value.) New coupons include:

Garnier Fructis Shampoo or Conditioner - $1.00
Pillsbury Crescent Rolls - $0.50 off two
Luna Bars - Buy 2, Get 1 Free
Jergen's lotion - $1.00
Corn Flakes Touch of Honey - $1.00
Success Rice - $1.00
Caribou Coffee - $2.00
Progresso Soup - $1.10 off three
California Pizza Kitchen - $1.00

Tip: you can combine Cellfire and Coupons.com coupons. So let's say you buy Jergen's body lotion and you've added the Cellfire coupon to your rewards card and printed the Coupons.com Jergen's coupon. You'll get $2.00 off on that item. If the store has the product on sale for $1.99, you'll get it for free. (And yes, that does happen more often than you'd expect.)

If you shop at Pavilions, don't forget to check out its 12 Days of Savings promotion going on through Dec. 24. You can pick up a free item with a minimum $20 purchase.

Warehouse Sale, Dec. 18-20

If you're looking for a last minute holiday gift (or a little something for yourself), check out this warehouse sale taking place Friday, December 18 through Sunday, December 20 downtown at the Los Angeles Convention Center.

It features men's and women's items by Citizens of Humanity, Smashbox Cosmetics products (prices start at $5), Morphine Generation & Erik Hart clothing (prices start at $10), and more.

UPDATE: I just got this info from the folks running the sale...

Items will be marked down by up to 80% and shoppers who buy four items will receive a fifth item free. The complimentary item is the least expensive of five. {You know what this means...bring a friend, pool your purchases and save!}

The sale offers both men’s and women’s clothing in a full range of sizes. (This is not a traditional “sample” sale.) All items presented are manufacturer’s overstock, or pre-production designs.

RSVP is required for entry.

To RSVP for Friday, Dec. 18, 12pm-8pm, click here.

To RSVP for Saturday, Dec. 19, 10am-6pm, click here.

To RSVP for Sunday, Dec. 20, 10am-6pm, click here.

Thanks, Denim Therapy, for the tip!

Free Screening of The Polar Express on 12/19

The Pasadena Playhouse District is sponsoring a free screening of The Polar Express on Saturday, December 19 at 10:30 a.m. at Laemmle's Playhouse 7.

After the movie, you can head outside to the courtyard for a free concert by St. Lucy's Big Christmas Band.

Click here for details on the Pasadena Playhouse District site. It does not say that an RSVP is required, so you should be okay to just show up!

Buy One, Get One Free at Fatburger Thru 1/31/10

There's a new coupon out for the Fatburger locations in Westwood and downtown LA. Through January 31, 2010 you can buy one, get one burger free when  you bring in this printable coupon ($4.49 value).

The coupon is good only at those two locations.

Enjoy!

Free Shipping Day Highlights

It's Free Shipping Day, and here are the highlights:

719 retailers are participating in today's event with free shipping for arrival by Dec. 24
375 retailers are offering free shipping on ALL purchases (no strings, buy anything and the shipping is free)
344 retailers are offering free shipping with restrictions

Click on the links above to see all of the retailers' deals. Below are my favorites, most of which have no restrictions and free shipping for anything you order. Free shipping on top of sales (most of these companies are offering pretty darn good sales right now) is a nice combination!

Apple Store - free 2-3 day shipping (no code required)
Amazon.com - free super saver shipping on qualifying purchases of $25 or more (most purchases qualify, it's just select items by third-party sellers that do not - it's very clear on each product page)
7 For All Mankind - free shipping (no code required)
Brooks Brothers - enter COMPSHIP for free shipping
eBags - enter COMJFSDY09 for free shipping
Nike - enter GIFT for free shipping
Saks Fifth Avenue - enter HOLIDAY09 for free shipping
Target - free shipping on orders of $50 or more, plus $5 off when you spend at least $50 
The Body Shop - enter WREATH for free shipping (and receive a free mini body butter with $30 purchase)

Cigar Sampler Deal

I sometimes write about deals that men likely have no interest in (hello free nursing cover). Well, this post is for you guys who read LA Bargain Hunter (and the women who shop for you, and perhaps enjoy a good cigar themselves).

Thompson Cigar has a great deal going on right now.

You can buy this 12 cigar sampler set for $14.95. It includes 4 Belmondo Vintage cigars, 4 La Paloma Vintage Reserve Connecticut cigars, and 4 Chavon cigars. When you order by December 21, you're guaranteed to get it by Christmas and shipping is free.

But wait, it gets better. Go here to sign up for the Thompson Cigar email list and you'll receive an email with a 10% off code. The email will arrive 3 days after you register, so you need to hurry if you're interested in this for a holiday gift..

Apple iPod Nano Deal at WalMart

This Saturday, December 19 starting at 8:00 a.m., you can visit your local WalMart store to buy the 8GB Apple iPod Nano for $145 and receive a $50 iTunes gift certificate.

This is as good a deal for the Nano as I've seen anywhere. The next best deal is on Amazon, where you can get the 8BG Nano for $133.99 plus receive a $5 mp3 download credit with your purchase.

The deal is good in-store only and WalMart started promoting it today, so I'd suggest you make this a Saturday morning trip if you're interested.

Click here for more information about the deal. There are 20 WalMart stores in the Los Angeles area. Click here to find the one nearest you.

Dec. 17 is FREE Shipping Day

If you've procrastinated on your holiday shopping, all hope is not lost for scoring some great deals...and you don't need to make that last-minute panic run to the mall this weekend.  

Thursday, December 17 is Free Shipping Day. More than 700 retailers are participating in this 2nd annual event that's basically become a third "shopping event" (behind Black Friday and Cyber Monday).

Many retailers will offer free shipping on purchases of ANY amount. Others will offer free shipping with a minimum purchase total.

The free shipping offers will be unveiled at the stroke of midnight tonight, so check back here tomorrow for highlights. If you're curious to see which retailers are participating in Free Shipping Day, click here to head to the official Free Shipping Day web site.

Highlights include: Apple Store, Bloomingdale's, American Eagle, Border's, CB2, Crate & Barrel, Dylan's Candy Bar (and hundreds more).

Dec. 17: A Day Without a Bag

Heal the Bay's 3rd annual A Day Without a Bag is this Thursday, December 17.

Here's a quick description from Heal the Bay's site:

Our holiday gift to the environment! Join thousands of shoppers in L.A. County in giving up disposable bags in favor of reusable totes for 24 hours. A Day Without a Bag is an education and grassroots event coordinated by Heal the Bay that involves businesses and individuals throughout Los Angeles County. On this day we ask holiday shoppers and retailers to forgo single-use, plastic shopping bags in favor of reusable bags.

Heal the Bay volunteers will be handing out reusable bags all around LA on Thursday. Click here to find the giveaway location nearest you. Additionally, several LA retailers are offering incentives if you shop with a reusable bag on Thursday. Click here to see the deals at Ralph's, 99 Cent Store, Fred Segal, Albertson's and Banana Republic.

$2 Album Sale at 7Digital

7Digital.com is holding a $2 album sale with more than 2,000 albums included. This brings the cost per song below 20 cents in most cases. Click here to see all of the participating albums (available as mp3 downloads).

A few notable ones:

The Fame (Lady Gaga) 
Michael Jackson: The Definitive Collection
Number 1s (Stevie Wonder)

It's a GLEE Giveaway!

It's Wednesday, and I need my GLEE! Sadly, the show is on hiatus until April 2010. I'm trying to keep the Glee spirit alive today with a Glee giveaway for LA Bargain Hunter readers.

Up for grabs: 2 free Glee album downloads (winners can choose if they want Glee: The Music Volume 1 or Volume 2). Volume 1 was recently certified GOLD by RIAA!

Here's the deal:

I want to hear about the best places in Los Angeles to find a bargain. Do you frequent a particular thrift shop where you always find good stuff? Do you know of a store with an incredible sale section? Is the TJ Maxx near you hands-down amazing? What's your go-to-place for insanely cheap food? If you've found a good place to get a bargain, I look forward to hearing about it!

There's one entry per person through Friday at noon (Pacific), so please share your best bargain spot in the comments section below. (You can, of course, share more than one recommendation and that will be much appreciated, but that will not get you an extra entry.) If you have a Twitter handle, feel free to include that in your comment so I can more easily contact you if you win.

I'll randomly select two winners on Friday, December 18 around 1pm Pacific and announce them here on the blog and on Twitter. I'll need to receive the winners' email addresses so I can send them Amazon.com mp3 download credits.

If you just can't wait to get your Glee fix today, listen to samples from the show's albums here or you can re-watch 1st season episodes online here at Fox.com.

DVD Deals (and $1 Magazine Promo)

I wrapped up my holiday shopping today (yay!) and in the process of buying a few DVDs, I discovered another great deal on Amazon.

When you purchase any DVD shipped and sold by Amazon (not by a third-party seller), you can get a 1-year subscription to Rolling Stone, Men's Journal or Us Weekly for $1.

This is on top of the significant discounts and free shipping (for orders of $25 or more) you get already via Amazon. Oh how I love this site!

Click here to go straight to the DVD homepage on Amazon. Click here for all the details on the DVD promotion.

Thursday, December 17 is the last day to take advantage of free super saver shipping at Amazon. After that, you'll likely have to pay a small fee to ensure your gifts arrive by the 25th.

Free Starbucks Album Download

iTunes has a special offer for its Facebook fans. Right now, you can download a 20-song Starbucks sampler album for free. The album includes tracks by Sting, Moby and a host of other artists I'm not as familiar with (but so far, I'm liking the album).

Here's what to do to get the album:

1. Become a fan of iTunes on Facebook here
2. In the left column of the iTunes Facebook page, click on the Pick of the Week graphic (it will say Starbucks Sampler)
3. When prompted, allow access for the iTunes app on Facebook
4. Verify your iTunes account
5. Enter your activation code (the iTunes Facebook app will generate a unique code for you)

Treat Yourself to 33% Off at The Counter

The Counter serves up one delicious burger. Actually, there are more than 300,000 possible burger combinations at this build-your-own-burger spot. If you love The Counter (or are curious to check it out), here's a way to enjoy the menu at 33% off.

This month, when you purchase a $25 gift card to The Counter, you receive a coupon good for one free burger (1/3 lb). A 1/3 lb burger will regularly run you $8.25. So you're getting $33.25 worth of food for $25. Yes, I'm talking about buying a gift card for yourself, because you love The Counter that much! (The gift card is also an excellent holiday gift, but why not take advantage of the deal for yourself, too?) Take a look at the yummy menu here.

Click here to buy your gift card online, or ask your server at the restaurant. You'll find The Counter in Santa Monica, Marina del Rey, El Segundo, Westlake Village and Pasadena. Click here for location addresses.

I highly recommend their sweet potato fries, too.

New Domains $1 on GoDaddy.com

If you've been thinking about buying your own domain, whether for your business or personal use, today is the time to do it!

GoDaddy is offering new domain registration for 99 cents when you enter promo code BUYCOM99 at checkout. There's an 18 cent ICANN fee, so your total purchase will amount to $1.17. You can't beat this deal to get your own domain! Domains are regularly $10.69 on GoDaddy and similar domain registration sites.

Note: there's no information on when this promo code expires, so I'd suggest using it today if you're interested.