gift certificates

Yelp rolls out gift certificates for local businesses

Upping the ante in the daily deals game, Yelp announced today that it will now let small-business owners offer gift certificates directly from their profile pages.

These gift certificates don't come with any sort of discount; they're just a simple way for users to buy cash presents for their friends, family, or colleagues. Yelp came up with this idea after a testing phase where it found that keeping deals separate from gift certificates is important because most people don't like to give discounted products as a present.

Here's how Yelp explained the new feature in a … Read more

Snag dining deals with Restaurant.com for Android

Tired of eating the same things over and over? Or maybe you're just looking to grab a deal at your favorite spot to eat? Time to check out Restaurant.com's Android app.

With this app you'll find options for gift certificates at restaurants that are local to you, and at a much better price. For instance, when I went looking for sushi, I found a local place that had options to spend $4 for a $10 gift certificate, or $15 for $25. Those are amazing deals if you're on a budget and don't want to … Read more

Last-minute gift: A $50 iTunes gift card for $40

Well, folks, that wraps up another year for the Cheapskate. (Actually, I may have a deal or two for you next week, but mostly I'm planning some much-needed battery recharging.)

I want to wish everyone a safe and exciting holiday, and a happy and healthy new year. Wish I could join all of you for some latkes and eggnog!

What I can do is offer you one last pre-holiday deal--something that arrives almost instantly via e-mail. Wal-Mart is offering a $50 iTunes gift card for $40. No sales tax, and no shipping charge!

It's pretty rare to see deals on iTunes cards, let alone a 20 percent discount. If you're giving this as a gift, you get to look like a big shot while secretly remaining a cheapskate. Mwa ha ha.… Read more

Five last-minute gifts you can print at home

My undying thanks to everyone who wrote and commented with such kind words yesterday. I was really flabbergasted by the show of support, and I appreciate the reminder that Cheapskate readers are the coolest, kindest folks on the planet.

This is an update of a post I did last year around this time.

Well, here we are, just one week to go until the ho-ho-holiday. If you're a procrastinator like me, you might be scrambling to find a last-minute gift for, say, your trusty mail carrier, the kids' schoolteacher, or the office Secret Santa party.

No problem: all you … Read more

Five last-minute gifts you can print!

Uh, oh! Just a few more shopping days until the ho-ho-holiday. Are you scrambling for a last-minute gift for your trusty mail carrier, the kids' schoolteacher, a co-worker, or someone else on your list?

Good news: All you need is a printer. These five stores let you print your own gift certificates for fast, easy, and downright special in-person giving:

Amazon.com On any Amazon page, click the Gift Cards link, then choose Print a gift card. The minimum amount is $5, but you're not limited to increments: Your certificate can be in the amount of, say, $12.09 … Read more

Get a $10 Restaurant.com gift certificate for 80 cents

We interrupt your regularly scheduled tech deals to bring you this important bulletin...

Food!

Specifically, restaurant food. As many of you know, Restaurant.com sells gift certificates for a fraction of their face value. And right now, you can buy them for a fraction of that fraction.

For example, $25 certificates normally sell for $10, but if you enter coupon code ENTREE at checkout, the price drops to $2. And $10 certificates, normally $4, drop to just 80 cents. Yowza.

For those unfamiliar with Restaurant.com, the only real "string" attached is a minimum food or drink purchase. … Read more

Five ways to eat cheap this weekend

People--supermodels, mostly--often stop me in the street and say, "Rick, your tech deals are insanely awesome, but what about food? Surely finding all those bargains makes you hungry?"

Then I say, "Yes, but don't call me 'Shirley,'" and they shake their heads sadly, having realized that bloggers are just as unfunny in person as they are online.

Anyhoo, it being Friday and all, I thought I'd take a tech break and serve up some cheap eats you can score this weekend:

This printable coupon from Boston Market ( PDF) gets you 20 percent off "… Read more

Get a $25 restaurant gift certificate for $3

Hungry? Like to dine out? Restaurant.com normally lets you buy $25 gift certificates for $10, but right now you can scoop them up for just $3 apiece. Simply enter coupon code SAVE when you get to the shopping cart.

Anyone familiar with Restaurant.com knows there are usually a few small strings attached, like a minimum food or drink purchase. However, it's not like you have to order a case of wine or anything. And you can print the coupon right on your own printer: It's immediately ready for use.

A few months back I used one … Read more

Four last-minute gifts you can print!

Need a last-minute gift for an office party, your trusty mail carrier, a beloved blogger, or anyone else on your list? As long as you have a printer, you can churn out something special in a matter of minutes. Here's a list of four stores that let you print your own gift certificates for in-person giving:

Amazon.com On any Amazon page, click the Gift Cards link, then choose Print at Home. The minimum amount is $5, but you're not limited to increments: Your certificate can be in the amount of $10.57, if you want. Gifts.com … Read more