America's Consumer: Where the Deals Are This Weekend

Jan. 28, 2011— -- TGIF! Today I shared where you can find some great shopping deals this weekend. From clothes to gifts to restaurants -- some are cheap, others are free!

I had some help from the mommy bloggers at MyCityMommy.com, a network of women who find great deals and share them with their local communities.

Laura Thornquist, the MyDallasMommy blogger, told me that she learned to bargain hunt when she was laid off and her husband was transferred because of the recession.

"We basically had Nordstrom tastes on a Dollar Store budget. I had to get creative and get really frugal," Thornquist said. "By making a small, part-time income and all the savings that I make on my website, I am doing better than I was working full time and paying for day care."

So, what kinds of deals are making the mommy blogger say that "every day feels like Christmas"? Read on!

Shoes

How about shoes for 66 percent off? Here's how it works: Eversave.com is one of those daily deal websites similar to Groupon, and Friday, Jan. 28, their deal is with ShoeBuy.com, the biggest shoe retailer on the Internet. All you do is sign up at Eversave.com and choose the Shoe Buy deal. Combine the original deal ($15 for $30 worth of shoes) with an extra coupon code at check out (Coupon code: TGIF for an additional $3 off). Plus, new Eversave members get $2 cash back on their next purchase, so it's like getting $30 worth of shoes for $10. This offer is valid for Friday, Jan. 28 only.

Glasses

The only thing better than a sale is a freebie! CoastalContacts.com is trying to get people in the habit of buying glasses online, so the company is giving away 10,000 free pairs, Friday, Jan. 28! To get the deal, go to the Coastal Contacts Facebook Page and click the "Like" button to get a coupon code. Then go to the Coastal Contacts website and choose your glasses. Type in the prescription from your doctor. You also will need something called your "PD measurement," the distance between your pupils. Sometimes it's on your prescription. If not, there's an instructional video to show you how to measure it. Use your coupon code at check out to get your free glasses!

Bracelet

All this weekend (Friday, Jan. 28 through Sunday, Jan. 30, 2011), the jewelry website Bluenile.com is offering sterling silver beaded bracelets for 40 percent off. Once again, we've got a promo code for you. You know that box that pops up when you're ready to pay and you're always thinking, "Shoot, is there some promo code I don't know about?" Well, this time you do. The code is "MyCityMommy." Instead of getting the bracelet for $55, you'll get it for $33!

Jeans

This is another Facebook promotion, offered by Petrol Jeans, maker of both men's and women's jeans. Facebook deals are a real trend that we are seeing. To win this contest, ask your friends to go to the Petrol Jeans Facebook wall and type in your name. If you're one of the first 1,000 people with 20 or more mentions, you get a free pair of Petrol jeans. The contest ends Monday, so get busy hounding your friends to help!

Photos

Ritzpix.com is offering new customers a choice of four different freebies: You can get either 25 free 4x6s, four free 5x7s, two free 8x10s or a 5x7 folding photo card. You can order online and pick the photos up at your local store or have them mailed to your home and pay regular shipping. Here's the link you need to access Ritz Camera's Try Us for Free Home Page.

Frames

Once you've got all those free photos, you'll want frames for them, right? We think of Mikasa as a china and crystal maker, but Mikasa also makes silver-plated picture frames. On Friday, Jan. 28, 5x5 and 5x7 frames on Mikasa.com are 71 percent off! The manufacturer's suggested retail price is $53, but today through the weekend they are $14.99 instead.

Restaurant Deals

Einstein Brothers Bagels has stores in 27 states and is offering a free bagel thin with shmear if you buy any drink. Here is the Facebook coupon you'll need.

McAlister's Deli operates in 22 states, and Friday, Jan. 28 through Sunday, Jan. 30, McAlister's will give you a free kids meal when you buy an adult meal. Just say "My City Mommy" to get the deal.

Waffle House Restaurants across the country are offering a free waffle with this coupon from now until March 1. It's a perfect weekend treat!

Click here for more consumer news and money-saving tips from Elisabeth Leamy.