A Slate full of frugal ideas

Posted by Ted McEnroe January 2, 2009 at 4:45 pm

We try to come up with lots of our own frugal ideas – but it would be rude to steal them from anyone else. So instead, we’ll just give you this handy-dandy link to a list from Slate Magazine of a few sites that are part of a growing interest in saving money.

Among them, Wise Bread, which seems to be about saving almost anything – the lead story as I write this is about cutting calories. The two-year-old site has a strong following, and is worth a look.

There’s also slickdeals.net, which is a barebones “Here’s some good stuff on sale” site you can scan to your heart’s content.

And there’s much more. Check it out in Slate.

And speaking of good deals – we have a few lingering half-price bargains at NECN’s Project Half Price. There are certificates to Aura, the great restaurant in Boston’s Seaport Hotel, and Asian C, a neat Asian fusion bistro in Hingham, Mass. Plus, half-price coffee deals from the Coffee Break Cafe in Quincy and Braintree, Mass., and even some indoor golf bargains from GolfTEC, so you can get your game in shape while the only things flying outside are snowflakes.

Check them out at necn.projecthalfprice.com.

Friday blowout for Project Half Price!

Posted by Ted McEnroe December 18, 2008 at 10:25 am

Everyone else is having a pre-Christmas sale – so why not Project Half Price!

We have a major blowout Friday at 8am – with deals from some amazing places – half-price certificates from:

Clink., the fabulous restaurant at the Liberty Hotel in Boston. The menu changes daily, but the unique atmosphere is always a conversation piece. Buy a $100 gift certificate for $50.

Vintage, a West Roxbury landmark giving an urban feel in a more suburban location, and featuring a great wine list. (With a name like Vintage…). Get $100 gift certificates for $50.

Three great Worcester restaurants – Bocado, Mezcal and Block 5 Bistro Bar – all operated by Niche Hospitality Group. Bocado takes you on a journey for the taste buds with Mediterranean-inspired tapas and other cuisine. Mezcal features Southwestern and Mexican cuisine with homemade ingredients and a large selection of tequlias. And Block 5 Bistro showcases an eclectic spin on comfortable American cuisine, in a cool building in Worcester’s Canal district. Your $100 gift certificate can be used at any of the restaurants – for just $50.

And if food isn’t your the thing on your gift list… take a swing at some great deals from Golf Tec. You can brush up on your swing (or maybe cut your lost golf ball budget for 2009) with some winter lessons. Your $100 certificate (on sale for $50) can be applied to lessons at any of their greater Boston locations.

It’s your last chance to get certificates before the holidays, and it will sell out fast.

They all go on sale Friday at 8am… and when they’re gone, they’re gone.

Here… and gone!

Posted by Ted McEnroe November 28, 2008 at 9:42 am

Thanks to everyone who made week one of our new ‘Project Half Price’ campaign such a success. Our certificates for Bricco, Mare and Trattoria il Panino sold out less than 40 minutes after their official sale time of 8am.

So, if you missed out – don’t despair. We are going to be selling certificates every Friday at 8am. Coming up Friday, December 5 – gift certificates for Asian C, the wonderful Chinese and Japanese restaurant, just south of Boston in Hingham, Massachusetts.

Remember, the certificates go on sale each Friday at 8am in limited quantities. And when they’re gone, they’re gone!

Update: More on Project Half Price deals this week

Posted by Ted McEnroe November 25, 2008 at 6:58 pm

So, I promised more on our Black Friday kickoff for the new NECN site “Project Half Price” – and here’s how it works. Think of it like the Filene’s Basement ‘Running of the Brides’, but without the pushing, the shoving, or the lace.

It works this way. Every Friday at 8am, you can go to our Project Half-Price site (necn.projecthalfprice.com), and there will be restaurant gift certificates on sale. $100 gift certificates for $50, or $50 gift certificates for $25. But they will always be in limited quantities – and when they’re gone, they’re gone.

For week one, we are starting with certificates to three of Frank de Pasquale’s great Boston restaurants – Bricco, Mare, and Trattoria il Panino. You pay $50, and get $100 worth of great food. Three different tastes of Italy – one great price.

Click on the link here – or go to NECN.com and click on the Project Half Price banner to see what we’re offering on Project Half Price.

A source for holiday coupons – in a not-so-likely place

Posted by Ted McEnroe November 25, 2008 at 4:20 pm

Image via WikipediaThe techies in your life probably already know Chris Pirillo. He’s one of the most popular tech bloggers out there – in fact, if you search “Chris” in Google… he’s the first name on the list. (Take that, Chris Brown, Chris Columbus, even NECN’s own Chris Collins.)

But one of the things Chris has done on his site is provide coupons and links to great deals. And for the holidays, Chris is reaching well beyond tech to aggregate coupons from dozens of places – including definite non-tech places like Liz Claiborne.

Check out the video, and visit www.pirillo.com – click on coupons.

Clarion Nantasket New Year’s Eve Stay and Play Deal

Posted by Ted McEnroe October 9, 2008 at 11:13 am

Tired of the same old parties? Don’t want to drive, freeze your butt off walking around town, or rack your brain to come up with a “theme”?

Relax-check in, go to our spa, enjoy a delicious three course buffet dinner from Raffael’s in our Ocean Front Ballroom, delight in the company of your friends and family (private tables for parties of 6 or more) and dance until 2AM. You are just steps away from your Oceanfront or Partial Ocean View room with your own private balcony and fireplace. Go for a swim in our heated year-round pool and start the New Year with a brunch buffet in Raffael’s at Nantasket. Say goodbye to 2008 in style and comfort.

No Hassles-No Stress-$299.99 (plus hotel tax) and take the elevator home! Call today to guarantee your room; we’re offering the best available views on a first come, first serve basis.

Price: $299.99 (Per Couple), includes:

-Overnight accommodations in an Ocean Front or Ocean View room/with Balcony/Fireplace/Jet Tub
-Three Course Dinner Buffet in our Ocean Front Ballroom provided by Raffael’s at Nantasket, featuring:
*Hors D’Oeuvres: Imported Cheese, Fresh Fruit, Shrimp Cocktail, Crab Cakes, Beef Wellington, and Shittake Mushrooms
*Dinner Buffet: Mediterranean Salad (served); Prime Rib of Beef, Salmon Munei, Chicken Raffael, Orecchietti Pasta with Porcini Mushrooms in a Truffle Sauce, Roasted Fingerling Potatoes, Asparagus with Roasted Tomato.
*Sweet Table: Assortment of fine pastries, cookies, and tortes, coffee, tea, decaf
*Midnight Champagne Toast, and noise makers!

There will be a Cash Bar and entertainment throughout the night.

Plus, receive a $25.00 Gift Certificate to Raffael’s at Nantasket for Brunch on New Year’s Day – or to use however you wish!

Dunkin’ Donuts deal

Posted by Courtney October 1, 2008 at 10:33 am

If you run on Dunkin’ — you’re in for a treat.  As a way to drum up business in the tough economy, Dunkin’ is selling lattes for just 99 cents.  But only from 2-5 p.m. weekdays.  You can also get an egg & cheese for 99 cents with a coffee.  Promotions start today and run through Nov. 11.

Indulge yourself — for a bargain

Posted by Courtney September 24, 2008 at 11:42 am

If you love going to the spa but hate paying a fortune, you’re in luck.  Spa week is coming up.  From October 13-19th, more than 25 spas in the greater Boston area are offering treatments for just $50.  It’s your chance to get that organic sweet soy and pink grapefruit pedicure you’ve always wanted.  Check out spaweek.org for more info.

Our newest partner wants you in the “Clink” by morning

Posted by Ted McEnroe September 22, 2008 at 3:31 pm

A great deal on a luxury hotel room might sound a little surprising. Well, so is a luxury hotel at a former jail. But if somehow you’ve missed the buzz, the former Charles St. Jail is now the luxurious Liberty Hotel.

The hotel opened last year to great fanfare, and has lived up to the hype. Now you can experience Liberty at a very nice price. The ‘Big House Breakfast Package’ lets you do a little time there – just steps from Charles Street boutiques, the Boston Common, Public Garden and great historical sites – at a great price.

This luxury Boston hotel package includes overnight luxurious accommodations and breakfast for two, either in the signature restaurant ‘Clink’ or through what they refer to as ‘Solitary Dining.’

Packages start at $295, based on double occupancy, subject to availability.

The Liberty is the perfect home base for exploring Boston, it’s a conversation piece unto itself, and it’s our newest ‘Cut Your Costs’ partner.

Make (saved) green a fall color in Kittery, Maine

Posted by Ted McEnroe September 1, 2008 at 2:24 pm

If you travel up Rt. 95 into Maine, you know where they are – the Kittery Outlets. The strip of Route 1 features more than 120 famous designer and brand name outlet stores including Banana Republic Factory Store, Crate and Barrel, Hartstrings Childrenswear, Liz Claiborne, OshKosh, Polo Ralph Lauren Factory Store, Tommy Hilfiger, Gap Outlet, Ellen Tracy, Kasper, Waterford Wedgwood, Seiko and of course, the Kittery Trading Post, which is worth a trip in its own right.

The Kittery Outlets cover a mile of Rt. 1, with a number of small malls, restaurants and more – and all just a hour from Boston and five minutes from the ocean. The combination makes it a great place to hit the shops and explore the southern Maine coast in a single day.

The Kittery Outlets are our newest “Cut Your Costs” partner. Head to our ‘Coupon Corner’ and print this page – then take it to the Tanger Mall Office at Tanger and receive a free ‘It’s All About ME’ shopping bag and VIP Savings Booklet.

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