This is my last weekday at WCCO with my final newscast coming up this Saturday night. So I wanted to say thanks. Your support for my work both on the air and on the web has meant so much to me over the years. It's always fun to hear your feedback.
There are so many people behind the scenes who make what we do seem effortless and I wish you at home could see how hard they all work. I feel so incredibly fortunate to have worked in a newsroom that's filled with supportive, caring, driven journalists and to be joining a team in Austin, Texas that offers the exact same environment. What can I say? I'm a lucky girl.
For those of you who've enjoyed the tips, I will continue my blog at KVUE starting the week of December 8th. You'll find the same insightful money saving suggestions and I'll also continue with my "Deals of the Week". Plus I'm still going to be telling the kinds of stories I'm passionate about, so I hope you'll tune in on the web.
Here at WCCO, Bill Hudson will be doing some of the same kinds of stories I've done over the years. So if you have any ideas for him, please send him an e-mail.
Store Savings
Now onto this week's deals--retailers are pulling out all the stops to get you to shop this holiday season, so look for big sales in the stores and online. I've put a few links below to help you find them as well as some more dinner savings.
Black Friday Deals
Many retailers, including Best Buy, have already announced some of their Black Friday deals. They're hoping you shop after Thanksgiving. Here are a few places to check out those ads:
Black-Friday.net
bfads.net
blackfriday.info
For all of you looking to score some deals I really recommend checking out Mommy Savers.com. This site is run by a Minnesota mom and folks from all across the country post their coupon codes and the deals they find.
Best Buy is letting you cash in on those Black Friday deals Thursday online.
Amazon.com is having its own Black Friday sale online. In case you didn't know Amazon also has its own outlet where prices are marked down by as much as 50 percent. One thing to be careful of, some of the products are refurbished so be certain you're okay with that.
It has also launched a new program called Customers Vote where you vote on the item you'd most like to buy at a discount and then see if you're selected to buy it. The buying begins this Friday. Among the items up for a vote, a Harry Potter book: The Tales of Beedle the Bard, Collector's Edition.
Free Coffee
Caribou Coffee is offering a free drink, any kind, any size when you donate one pound of coffee for the Baskets of Hope program. The program provides a full meal for up to eight people per basket and will be delivered December 19 and 20.
Free Bluetooth
Qwest is giving away free Bluetooth wireless headsets for anyone who purchases a Verizon Wireless phone. The catch—you've got to sign a two year agreement.
Free Christmas Song Downloads
Oprah is letting you download 8 free Christmas songs for the next 48 hours. Then remember...
Oprah's Favorite Things Show with a Twist
This is always one of my favorite shows and this year Oprah has the cost conscious consumer in mind. Her Favorite Things will be recession-friendly this year. You can see them for yourself today at 4pm right here on WCCO. She'll even show you one gift that costs you nothing.
Eat Out Savings
From now through Sunday, November 30th you can save 70 percent more on gift certificates through Restaurant.com. Just type in the code THANKS. I just used another one of these certificates last night with my husband and M&S in downtown Minneapolis. These certificates really are easy to use. Remember with the code a $25 gift certificate costs just $3.
Tonight at ten, I'll show you more great ways to eat out and still save money.
