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July 2009
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Austin Energy does charge more for electricity during the summer months because of the demand. You pay the same for the first 500 kWh but after that between May and October you pay 7.82 cents per kWh versus the 6.02 cents you pay November through April. What's average? What if your bill is higher? Rebates and Tax Credit You can find a list of all of the incentives provided locally here. Here's a list of all the federal tax credits being offered right now. More Energy Savings Advice There's also a guide on how to do your own home energy audit. There are a couple of recalls parents need to know about because they involve products for small children. Cribs Here's a look at what can happen. The recalled model numbers include but may not be limited to: 8050, 8325, 8620, 8745, 8748, 8755, 8756, 8765, 8778, 8810, and 8994, 8995, 8996. The cribs were sold nationwide at department stores and children's stores from January 2005 through June 2009 for between $150 and $300. If you have one of these you should stop using the crib immediately and return it to where you bought it for a refund or store credit. This recall ties in with another crib recall issued last year in which a million cribs were recalled. The CPSC is also interested in hearing from any other families who may have experienced problems with their cribs. Go here to report any problems. Baby Floats The floats were sold in a variety of styles and colors. The names and model numbers are located on the packaging. A date between 08/02 and 07/08 is molded on the valves of recalled products. Products not included in the recall can be identified with the lettering "NP" molded on the valve.
• Baby & Me Combo, ET 9105 To see pictures of all of them go here. For a full refund call Aqua-Leisure toll-free at (866) 807-3998 between 8:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. ET Monday through Friday or visit the company's web site.
The changes mean borrowers who owe 25 percent more than their home's market value will qualify for government help refinancing their mortgages. Currently the program helps borrowers who owe five percent more than their homes are worth. The goal is to help homeowners who've been making their mortgage payments on time, but they've been unable to refinance because property values have declined. You can get more information and see if you qualify for the Relief Refinance Mortgage program here. Ever wonder what people who work in the White House make? Today Congress received the annual report of staff salaries. The more than a dozen assistants to the president each make $172,000 a year. I was surprised how little the speech writers make in comparison--around $45,000 a year. You can check out the list for yourself here. You can check all of the Congressional salaries here.
Food • Cru is having a Red, White & Cru special for July 4th. You get a three course meal for just $19.76. My husband and I ate brunch here this past weekend and the food was terrific. You can check out the menu for July 4th here. Reservations are recommended. There are two locations in Austin as well as locations in Dallas, Houston and Denver. • Max's Wine Dive is a new restaurant downtown that's offering a brunch deal starting July 5th. The all day Sunday brunch includes all you can eat fried chicken and waffles for $25. The brunch is served from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. You can find the full brunch menu here. • I've written about Kids Meal Deals.com before, however they have a new way to search while you're on the road. It's a mobile application you can get with your cell phone. If you're not familiar with the site it's a terrific place to find deals at restaurants across the country and specifically places that offer discounts or free food just for kids. • Don't forget the buy one get one free ice cream sundaes each Monday all summer long (through August 31st) at Ben & Jerry's Ice cream stores. All you have to do is mention the offer. Movies • AMC movie theaters also host a movie summer camp. There are theaters located at Barton Creek Shopping Center. Every Wednesday between now and August 5th you'll find movies that cost just $1. The shows start at 10 a.m. Theaters across the country participate. To find one near you go here. Today's movie is Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa. You can see the complete summer schedule of movies here. Clothing and Shoes • Beginning today through July 4th, Shoe Carnival is giving customers a card to buy one pair of shoes and get a second pair of equal or lesser value for half off. You can use the card through January 19, 2010. Furniture Travel Travel Zoo also has some last minute July 4th deals. Royal Caribbean has some amazing cruise deals. For example a four night Bahamas cruise for as little as $209 a person.
"At USA TODAY's request, FareCompare analyzed all domestic fares for flights between the hub cities of legacy airlines United, American, Continental, Delta and US Airways. The fares were valid Friday for travel in mid-July with a 14-day advance purchase. The analysis found that the cheapest round-trip coach fares were less expensive this summer for 115 of 136 pairs of cities. In 54 city pairs, the cheapest tickets were at least 25% lower than a year ago." Unfortunately FareCompare didn't look at fares from Austin, but it did look at airfare from Dallas and Houston. It found the cheapest ticket from Houston to Washington, D.C. last July cost $238, this July the cheapest airfare was $158 or 34 percent less. You can check the changes it found on airfare to 136 different destinations here. Remember each Wednesday I post the best deals available that week--including travel-- right here on my blog.
That's why Oyster.com was created. On this site 10 full-time journalists and photographers secretly stay and visit hotels, snap pictures and write reviews. (Wouldn't you love to have that job?) The site just went up last week and currently rates hotels in Aruba, the Dominican Republic, Jamaica and Miami. In July the site will have reviews for hotels in Las Vegas and New York. It even has a place just for family friendly hotel rankings and prices. Although the selection is limited because the site is just getting stared, this could be a valuable tool for travelers.
According to the Wall Street Journal, the new kiosk machines will debut in stores in Dallas and Austin stores this week. The kiosks scan used games and then immediately pop out a voucher for a Best Buy gift card that you can use to buy anything in the store. The Best Buy program is similar to those launched by Amazon.com and Wal-Mart earlier this year. Although with the Wal-Mart kiosks and Amazon.com programs you have to wait a few days to get the credit for your games. How many trips do you make to the grocery store each week? I always try to go just once to load up for the week. However, I do a lot of cooking and baking so inevitably I forget something and have to make another run. According to Kiplinger, "almost half of all shoppers go to the store three or four times per week." But here's what I found so interesting, "shoppers making a quick trip to the store usually purchase 54 percent more than they planned." Guess there is something about making a grocery list. In case you need help making that list, check out this site.
Freebies • Yoga--Cancer survivors get to experience yoga classes and mini-workshops for free this Saturday. It's all part of a fundraiser for YogaBear. The non-profit pairs cancer patients with yoga studios and helps pay for classes to help them heal. This is also a terrific opportunity for healthy folks to give back and help someone else in need. Pay $25 and you can attend the Yogapalooza event this Saturday as well. It takes place at Lifetime Fitness South from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. You can learn more by watching my story Thursday at 6 p.m. Minor League Baseball Deal Food Deals • Ben & Jerry's is offering a buy one get one free sundae deal on Monday's through August 31st. All you have to do is mention the deal when you order. You can go here to find a store near you. There is only one Ben & Jerry's shop left in Austin. It's located in West Lake Hills. • Sign up to be a "Do Something" member at Baskin Robbins and get a coupon for a free soft serve ice cream cone. You'll have a short four day window to use the coupon (July 14th through the 17th) and you do have to sign up to receive e-mails so they can send you the coupon. • Restaurant.com ups the ante again this week by offering 80 percent off gift certificates. All you have to do is use the code word DISH and instead of paying $10 for the $25 gift certificates, you pay just $2. Hurry though, the savings are only good through Thursday, June 25th. • Texas Land & Cattle restaurant has started offering deals using Twitter. Thanks to Andrew who told me about this. Recently the restaurant announced that "between 4 and 6 one day you tell the bartender "ride 'em cowboy" and you could get a free appetizer." Here's the twitter page link: www.twitter.com/txlcmopac. Travel Deals • Southwest Airlines is having a click and save sale. It's a three day sale, which means you have until June 25th to book your flight, but you can travel through August 15th. Tickets are as cheap as $49 one way. A flight from Austin to Las Vegas is $114 one way. • And if you want to go to Vegas check out the deal the Monte Carlo Resort & Casino is offering. Book at least 30 days in advance and you can save up to 20 percent on a room--in some cases that makes the rooms as little as $42 a night. Give yourself even more time than that and you can get two free spa admissions and a $20 spa credit. • Continental Airlines is also offering airfare to the Caribbean for as little as $105 one way and $79 one way to Las Vegas. Unfortunately most of the deals leaving Houston are for destinations in Texas and Louisiana. • AirTran is also having a pretty good sale. You've got to book by June 30th and obviously the flights are out of San Antonio. |
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Terri Gruca anchors KVUE's 6 and 10pm newscasts. She brings you the latest consumer news and tells you where to find the best deals.
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