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Former News & Record Savvy Shopper columnist and biz writer Amy Buchanan sings the praises of a grocery store coupon Web site called The Grocery Game. It maintains a huge database of grocery store sales, coupons, rebates, etc.

"I've been doing this for about two weeks, and so far I’ve found it fun," Amy says in an e-mail.

For a $1 trial, you can check out lists for stores in your area. In the Triad, they they offer Food Lion, Harris Teeter, Lowes Foods, CVS, Walgreens and Rite Aid.

Harris Teeter has 12-packs of Corona, Pacifico and Modelo on sale for $9.99 through Tuesday to coincide with Cinco De Mayo. Haven't had the Pacifico, but I really like Modelo. And Corona is great with a wedge of lime, in my own humble opinion.

But some find it hard to swallow.

"I'm just going to say it: this beer tastes really, really bad. I mean it's just terrible," writes a UVA law school student on his blog about beer.

Hmmm. Now I can think of some beers that would deserve such damnation - Schlitz and Blatz spring to mind.

But Corona?

I'll take his blog to be a little bitter tongue in cheek. But I love his in-depth description, although our taste buds will simply have to agree to disagree. Stuff like: "Smell: A burst of sweet corn adjunct, followed by whisps of corn adjunct, and hiding in the back - wait, what's that? - yeah, more corn."

Good stuff (Corona and the blog).

Pretty good deal on mahi mahi, one of the best-tasting fish I've eaten: $4.99 a pound at Harris Teeter. Regular $8.99. Great on the grill.

Sometimes a bargain is just too good for our own good.

An event that will live in bargain infamy was a 10-cent beer promotion held during a 1974 Cleveland Indians game that resulted in fans streaking all over the field, players getting showered with hotdogs and Texas first basemen Mike Hargrove almost getting hit in the head by a jug of wine. One of the umpires was even struck in head by a flying chair.

Thanks a lot, by the way, for ruining an awesome beer special for future generations who will never get to experience buying a draft at a ballpark for a dime.

And here's something else you'll never again see in our lifetime: free furniture.

In North Carolina yesterday, fights and fender-benders forced Kings Mountain officials to shut down a furniture giveaway only one hour after it started.

"It kind of overwhelmed us," Mayor Rick Murphrey told the Charlotte Observer. "We were humbled by the turnout."

Beef Burger off Lee Street in Greensboro is celebrating its 47th anniversary by selling 47-cent burgers and 57-cent cheeseburgers Monday and Tuesday.

Tired of the same 'ole brewskies? The Press Wine Cafe, a restaurant and wine bar in downtown Greensboro, has one of the best selections of beer I've seen in the Triad. (Note to management: Change your name. Beer buffs would never know about your great selection by just calling it a wine cafe). Go on Fridays and all the beers are 50 percent off. Got out of my beer comfort zone and sampled a variety of brews from places I didn't know made some good stuff.

Case in point is a Russian brew called Baltika 3.

Hey, I know they're the king of vodka? But they make good beer, too?

Prices on beer range from $4.50 to upwards of about $25, some in 750 ML bottles, some in pints, some 12-ounce, before the 50 percent discount.

Also tried some home-grown brews, including Bar Harbor Blueberry Ale made in Maine, which gets pretty good marks from beer enthusiasts.

I'd also recommend the Pale Ale Steelhead.

Cheers.

No matter where I get my oil changed, the auto mechanic always places that little sticker on the windshield reminding me to return after 3,000 miles.

Truth or fiction? If you have a relatively new car and aren't driving it every day through a dust bowl or towing a boat, fiction is a safe bet.

So as gas prices sock it to us at the pump, double check with your auto manual regarding when you should change your oil because you could wind up saving a decent wad of dough each year. As a side benefit, you'll be helping the environment. So go ahead. Pat yourself on the back.

"We recommend that you change your oil and filter every 5,000 miles," according to a column at Cars.com. "That's our best estimate. It may be too soon for many people and too late for a few, but for the vast majority, 5,000-mile oil changes will help your engine last to a ripe, old age."

My Toyota Corolla 2002 manual, for example, recommends changing the oil every 5,000 miles at a minimum if you mainly drive in conditions such as unpaved or dusty roads, towing a trailer or repeated trips of fewer than five miles in temps below freezing. Otherwise, you can change it every 7,500 miles.

By the way, one of the best deals on getting an oil change in the Triad is a coupon in today's News & Record on C9. Oil change and tire rotation at Merchant's Tire & Auto for $19.99 (expires May 31).

Happy trails.

If you teach in North Carolina, Tuesday is your lucky day. Teachers and faculty can get free burritos and tacos at Chipotle Mexican Grill from 3 to 10. Just bring an ID.

It's how the 700-restaurant chain, which has two eateries in Greensboro, is celebrating National Teacher Day.

Walgreens is running a great sale on Domino sugar this week: $1.99 for five pounds. Limit two with the coupon in this week's sales paper.

The deal is even better if you have the coupons from Sunday's paper. In the Redplum insert, there's a coupon for 30 cents off any Domino sugar product. That'll make a five lb. bag just $1.69, which is cheaper than most store brands.

Procrastinator alert: We're on the home stretch regarding giving away a new camcorder for Mother's Day. Deadline is noon Thursday, so you've been warned.

Here's the deal: tell us why you think your mom deserves one of those easy-to-use Flip camcorders and you could be eligible to win one.

Submit your entries in the comment section at the bottom of this blog entry.

The winner can pick it up at the News & Record office on Friday using a valid ID such as a driver's license.

I'll announce the winner here.

Nine Inch Nails is offering its new album, “The Slip,” through its Web site for free.

"Thank you for your continued and loyal support over the years — this one’s on me," band leader Trent Reznor said in a post on Nine Inch Nails' Web site.

Looks like Radiohead started a nice trend, although that band is apparently only doing it once.

The trend among fast-food and regular restaurants in recent years has been to downsize their menu offerings both in price and size. Not to worry: you can still go to Hardee’s and get a Homer Simpson-drooling, 1,420-calorie Monster Thickburger.

Huge marketing blitz right now from KFC regarding it's 99-cent Snackers, which have actually been around for several years. Back when it started selling them in 2005, KFC called the item the most successful sandwich launch in the brand's history. But it's interesting to point out that this was launched during better economic times, so maybe consumers like to, gee golly Beaver, I don't know, save money all the time, not just when it's trendy.

But does that mean people are spending less in restaurants when all is said and done? Not necessarily.

"People in focus groups tell us they want control, they want to eat lighter," Steve Provost, Quiznos chief marketing officer, told the AP regarding their discounted $2 mini "Sammies" sandwiches they began offering in November. "The fact that they are buying more than one and are buying a chip or a drink with us shows us they are choosing to fill up their plate again."

I'll be the first to admit my wallet, stomach and waistline are locked in a never ending battle every time I step foot in a restaurant. Will one Jr. Whopper be enough? Better get two just in case.

Tip from former N&R staffer Amy Buchanan at her shopping blog regarding getting accounting software worth $169.99 for free.

A sampling of deals I've seen at grocery stores in the Triad regarding Mother's Day, which is Sunday (you didn't forget, did you?):

Twelve-inch message cookie for $5.99 at Harris Teeter, decorated bar cakes at Lowes Foods for $10.99, 8-inch single layer cakes at Food Lion for $5.49, heart cakes at Kmart for $8.99.

Update: Deadline has passed. Thanks for playing. Check back later today to see who the big winner is.

The clock is ticking: deadline is noon today regarding giving away a brand spankin' new camcorder for Mother's Day.

Note: to be fair to everyone, you will not be able to enter after the noon deadline. But I'm sure that won't be a problem because your mom raised you right in following the rules, respecting fairness and making deadlines, am I correct? I thought so. She'd be so proud of you.

Here's the deal: tell us why you think your mom deserves one of those easy-to-use Flip camcorders and you could be eligible to win one.

Submit your entries in the comment section at the bottom of this blog entry.

The winner can pick it up at the News & Record office on Friday using a valid ID such as a driver's license.

I'll announce the winner here later today.

We had lots of good responses to the Mother's Day camcorder giveaway, so I asked News & Record Assistant Features Editor Mike Kernels to help me pick a winner.

Drum roll please...the winner is...Keyonna. Congrats!

Keyonna, just stop by the main entrance to the News & Record office in Greensboro east of Davie and west of Church streets (facing Market Street on the south side) with your ID between 8:30 and 4:30 p.m. tomorrow and you're all set. The entrance to visitor parking also faces Market Street. Just make an immediate left onto Schlosser's Way after pulling into the entrance.

And to everyone else, stay tuned for future contests. You may win something just yet.

Possible Mother's Day gift: 7-inch Panasonic digital picture frame for $49.99 at Sears (regular $79.99).

Holds up to 600 photos.

Deal ends Sunday.

It never ceases to amaze me how businesses underestimate the potential appeal or consequences in offering a huge discount.

The 23-cent price of a pizza is an homage to LeBron James' jersey number. (Tony Dejak/The Associated Press)

Take the great 10-cent beer fiasco of 1974.

Or, more recently, a furniture giveaway west of Charlotte that backfired.

Now it's Papa John's turn to be amazed regarding their 23-cent pizza deal in Ohio yesterday.

"We're certainly a bit surprised about how darn popular this is," Tim North, vice president of the company's northeast division, told The (Cleveland) Plain Dealer.

One woman is heard in this AP video saying she waited 5-1/2 hours in line to get one.

Hey, times are tough and Papa John's makes pretty good pizza, but having to wait 5-1/2 hours in line to save about $10?

No matter how you slice it, that doesn't sound like a deal to me.

Shane's Rib Shack is giving away ribs, baby.

The first 100 customers on May 17 (next Saturday) will get a 1/2 rack of baby back ribs and a large Coke. They also get a numbered "Shaniac" jersey T-shirt indicating their place in line. Restaurant opens at 11 a.m.

In Greensboro, Shane's is located off West Wendover Avenue.

Another Shane's is opening soon in Greensboro at Westover Terrace.

Buy any 12-ounce bag of Starbucks coffee at Lowes Foods by May 18 and get a $5 Starbucks gift card by mail.

Here's the deal: when you buy the coffee, you get a voucher that includes a code that you enter at the Starbucks Web site. The card is then mailed. Must be redeemed online by May 31.

By the way, Lowes also has Starbucks on sale for $7.49 a bag (regular $9.99).

Dunkin' Donuts is giving away 16-ounce iced coffee Thursday from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.

In the Triad, the coffee and bakery chain has stores at Piedmont Triad International Airport, High Point, and Winston-Salem.

It's opening new stores in Greensboro this year.

The latest issue of Popular Science magazine (online link to the story currently not available) mentions Microsoft's WorldWide Telescope, a free Windows astronomy program you'll be able to download soon. No specific date - Web site only indicates it will be ready sometime in the spring.

The Internet-connected software "accesses millions of digital images collected from powerful terrestrial and space-based telescopes to offer a pristine view of the celestial bodies, providing more detail than competitors such as Google Sky," according to Popular Science. Other cool stuff: includes easy-to-use software for creating downloadable astronomical tours with narration, music, text and photo overlays.

More from Popular Science: "We previewed sample tours by two early testers. One from a Harvard astrophysics professor explained stars from clouds of hydrogen and dust, and another from a six-year-old astronomy buff simply made us smile."

This sounds really cool, aside from being free, even for the non-space geek types among us.

Set phasers on stunning.

Microsoft Corp. launched its WorldWide Telescope late Monday, a free, Web-based program that knits together images from the Hubble Space Telescope, the Chandra X-Ray Observatory Center, the Sloan Digital Sky Survey and others.

Users can surf the galaxy on their own or take guided tours of different outer-space destinations developed by astronomers and academics.

You can choose from a number of different telescopes and switch between different light wavelengths.

"The WorldWide Telescope is a powerful tool for science and education that makes it possible for everyone to explore the universe," Bill Gates said.

Time to stock up for your Memorial Day barbecue blast: Harris Teeter has a deal where you get a total of five 12-packs of Pepsi drinks if you buy two.

That would normally be $27.45 for five ($5.49 each), but you only pay $10.98.

I've been wondering how many people are in the same boat I'm in. Namely, foaming at the mouth just thinking about owning a big 'ole watercraft so I can crank up the throttle and watch as my wakes knock over others in their girly boats, laughing all the way to the yacht club where we make fun of the little people.

Trouble is, if you're in my shoes, things like bills and a lack of disposable income hit you upside the head like a big ole wave from a passing boat.

Until then, you might want to consider inflatable boats or kayaks for two reasons: portability (we don't own anything big enough to tow a boat anyway) and price. I've been researching getting a good quality inflatable boat (small outboard optional) that you can use to scoot in the water and take with you in the trunk for vacation. Or a decent inflatable kayak. I haven't decided. I've seen prices on 'em from the $500 range to thousands of dollars, depending on size and accessories. (That doesn't include outboards, which can get pretty expensive in their own right.)

One thing to consider: if you mainly do your boating, for example, at one of Greensboro's three watershed parks — Lake Higgins, Lake Townsend, and Lake Brandt — they're pretty strict about what you can use. But for good reason.

"There are a lot of objects in the lakes that could puncture an inflatable raft," Mike Simpson, Greensboro's watershed parks and trails director, told me on the phone today. "We do prohibit them out of concern for the safety of the citizens."

Take Lake Brandt as an example. Before it was cleared, it was nothing but woods. In 1926, prison labor crews cleared the area using those two-man, criss-cross saws, leaving behind stumps that are about waist-high, Simpson says. You just don't see them because they're under water.

Simpson was quick to point out one option is to simply rent a boat at one of Greensboro's three parks. Jon boats, for example, can be rented for $8 for one person or $10 for two, something we've done quite a few times. You can also rent kayaks for $10 and canoes for $15. You can rent sailboats at Lake Townsend.

If you wonder how people are pinching pennies during tough economic times, look no further than one of the cheapest places to get a bite to eat in the Triad: CiCi's Pizza.

Not that the 700-plus buffet restaurant chain's West Market Street location in Greensboro was a ghost town before.

But man, I'm telling you, that place was packed with people last night. Customers had to repeatedly wait for employees to replace the empty pie pans with fresh pizza because they couldn't make them fast enough.

Bill? A very appetizing $10.01 for two (with waters).

It's a pretty sweet deal: play a round at Bryan Park's top-rated Champions Course on the weekend for $33 versus $59 ($54 if you live in Greensboro) if you take advantage of their twilight special.

The catch? Not good until 3 p.m. Can you still squeeze in 18 holes? Possibly, though doubtful. There's always that one foursome out there (you know who you are) who are s-l-o-w, causing a ripple effect that results in late tee-off starts and other fun.

Foolish optimists that we are, our group is teeing off at 3:15 p.m. Saturday. We'll be packing our flashlights just in case.

Muse Restaurant at Friendly Center in Greensboro is honoring military personnel and dependents on Saturday, Armed Forces Day, by offering a 50 percent discount.

A portion of the proceeds will benefit the USO.

For reservations, call 323-1428.

Can't have a Memorial Day shin dig without the appropriate accessories, such as a blender for those tasty margaritas.

Sears has a Kenmore brand on sale for $29.99 (regular $49.99) from 9 a.m. until noon Saturday.

Harris Teeter is tripling manufacturers' coupons (up to 99 cents) through tomorrow. Limit 20 coupons.

Checked out about a half-dozen yard sales in Greensboro this morning. Business appears to be brisk. People trying to pinch pennies in tough economic times? Good excuse to go out and enjoy a bright, sunny (albeit a little on the chilly side) Saturday morning? Socialize? Bring home something you absolutely don't need?

Lots of people showed up at a community yard sale at Battleground North Apartments this morning.

All the above. People were selling all kinds of stuff: artificial Christmas tree, portrait of George Washington at Valley Forge, electric guitar and amplifier, roller blades, computer speakers, coffee tables, dressers, jeans, office chair, 19-inch TV, desk, toys.

A follow-up regarding the question I raised in an earlier post on whether you can take advantage of a great bargain on golf in Greensboro but still finish all 18 before dark. The answer is yes, with room to spare. We teed off at 3:15, thereabouts, wrapped things up about 7:45.

It was somewhat of a surreal experience, so we got more than we bargained for. As I was walking toward the driving range to warm up, I saw a gold-color car in the corner of my eye drive past, heading toward the first tee. I asked the starter about it. He saw it too, then shouted for someone to go after it. Turned out an elderly woman had become disoriented and was lost. They managed to get her back on track without any injuries or property damage. No gophers were harmed either.

Then someone in our group broke his golf club after teeing off on the second hole. You can see the result in this video. Warning: not for the faint-hearted (there's some really bad golf being played).

Gas prices bleeding you dry? Get a chance to win $750 worth of gas if you donate blood to the American Red Cross in June. Donors will be entered into a drawing to win a $750 Citgo gas card. Two winners will be announced.

People can register to win at a Red Cross blood center or Red Cross community drive. Visit the Red Cross' Web site for nearest location.

Speaking of blood, a recent Associated Press report (video here) concerning a rise in the number of people donating blood for gas money, at least in one community in Texas, caught my eye.

That got me wondering: is the Red Cross being affected by gas price woes? In other words, are more folks these days opting for some quick cash for blood instead of donating it?

Not in Greensboro at least.

Deal Locker mentions a pretty cool search tool that makes it easier to hunt for bargains at Amazon.com.

For example: Search for the brand name Olevia, which makes televisions, and a discount range, say 10 to 99 percent. Then get the results. Worked like a charm, at least for me.

A sampling of grocery store deals you might want to check out for your Memorial Day festivities:

Meats:
Boneless beef ribeye steaks are $6.99 a pound at Lowes Foods (regular $10.99 a pound), ground chuck is $1.68 at Food Lion (regular $3.29 a pound), boneless center pork chops at Harris Teeter for $3.99 a pound (regular $4.99 a pound), pork spareribs at Kmart for $1.49 a pound (regular $1.99 a pound).

Sides:
Whole seedless watermelons are $3.99 each at Kmart and Food Lion, sweet corn is 10 for $2 at Kmart, white or yellow corn is 10 for $2 at Lowes.

Drinks:
Cases of Yuengling, Bud Light, Coors Light and Miller Lite (limit 2) for $11.97 at Harris Teeter, buy four 12-packs of Pepsi products at Lowes for $11 and get a fifth 12-pack free, 2-liter sodas for 88 cents at Kmart.

Former N&R biz writer Amy Buchanan is giving away a vintage charm bracelet from Etsy at her Goo Goo Buy Buy shopping blog.

Lots of options out there - some pretty cheap - when it comes to watching movies and shows in hi-def.

We spell it out in this graphic that ran in Tuesday's News & Record.

Here's the accompanying multimedia piece we did that breaks down the choices:

Best deal I've seen on charcoal: buy one 18-pound bag of Kingsford charcoal at Lowes for $7.97, get the second bag free.

Doug Clark mentions a story on his blog regarding state investigators charging two Greensboro bar owners with mislabeling kegs of beer and representing them as more expensive brands.

"Bravo for the beer bust by state ALE," Doug writes. "Don't mess with beer drinkers, bar owners. But Bud Light, Busch Light, Coors Light? I didn't know there was any difference."

Didn't know there was any difference? Good golly, Miss Molly. I almost spit out a mouthful of Bud Light when I read that.

OK, I'm sure Doug had his tongue (possibly dipped in a more refined beverage) firmly planted in his cheek when he wrote that. But let me tell you a little story if I may.

Happened years ago in Virginia when my roommate laughed when I told him I could tell the difference between the mass market American brews such as Bud Light, Coors Light and Miller Lite, for example. Acting as if he was calling my bluff, he suggested a blind taste test at a party we were attending. I said dude, bring it on. Surprise: I guessed each one correctly. High fives. Doug, next Bud Light's on me. I'll be sure to label the container for you so you'll know what you're drinking.

Speaking of beer, a deal worth mentioning again: Cases of Yuengling, Bud Light, Coors Light and Miller Lite (limit 2) for $11.97 at Harris Teeter.

Cheers.

Today's business section of the News & Record ran a wire story ("Getting burned at the cookout") that proclaims "it's going to cost a lot more than it did last year to cook a burger, or just about any other favorite, on the grill."

Steve Helber/Associated Press
Not necessarily, at least when it comes to shopping in the Triad area of North Carolina.

A look at some popular cookout items listed in the story and their avarage prices and then a comparison regarding what I found:

* 1 lb. beef: $3.52, up from $3.48 a pound last year.

The real deal: Doesn't specify the type of beef, so let's just look at ground chuck. At Food Lion this week, it's on sale for $1.68 a pound (regular $3.29).

* Package of 8 hot dogs: $4.29, up from $4.02

The real deal: Get two 8-packs of Ball Park franks for $2.99 at Lowes Foods.

* 8 hot dog buns: $1.89, up from $1.65

The real deal: 2 8-packs of Nature's Own hot dog buns for $3 at Lowes Foods.

* 1 lb. American cheese: $3.88, up from $3.73

The real deal: That's a stumper. Haven't seen any deals on American cheese, but I'm sure they exist somewhere.

* 1 lb. tomatoes: $1.77, up from $1.63

The real deal: Ditto.

* 16-ounce bag of chips, $3.89, up from $3.48

The real deal: 2 bags of Lay's potato chips (a total of about 24 ounces) for $1.89 at Lowes Foods.

* 2-liter bottle of soda: $1.33, up from $1.20

The real deal: 2-liter bottles Diet Rite, 7 Up, A&W, RC Cola, Canada Dry and some other brands for 88 cents at Kmart.

Also check out your local farmer's market for great deals on produce, something our friends at the Cheesefry Nation blog pointed out.

As mentioned at Bargain Jack: Get a 32-inch Element HDTV (720 p) for $480 at Circuit City.

Great deal on an mp3 player that also plays video. Best Buy has the Insignia Pilot 8-gigabyte for $99.99 (regular $149.99).

Other features include Bluetooth wireless audio and FM tuner with 20 presets.

Reviews have been solid.

Deal ends tomorrow.

If you want to save some green at the course, particularly these days when it costs more to get there, you might want to consider walking, at least on the courses that allow it, instead of taking the golf cart. Courses that won't allow you to walk include Bryan Park's renovated Champions course, so make sure you check ahead of time.

Best deal I've seen on one of those golf bags with the built-in stands: $29.98 at Dick's Sporting Goods.

Getting an external USB hard drive so you can back up those priceless family vacation photos and video is an investment that could save you a ton of aggravation if your computer decides to go belly-up one day.

Office Depot has a 500-GB Seagate external USB hard drive for $89.99, regular $139.99.

At that size, you'd be able to store about 142,000 digital photos or 125,000 MP3s or 38 hours of digital video.

Radio station 98.7 Simon is making a stop as part of its "Picnic in the Plaza" series in Greensboro today. That means you can chow down on lunch for only 98 cents.

On the menu: grilled burgers, all-beef hot dogs with all the fixin's, chips, fruits, beverages and more. Food from Pepper Moon Catering and drinks from Costco.

News & Record file

Takes place from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Governmental Plaza in downtown Greensboro.

Proceeds will benefit the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

The trendy thing to do these days, what with penny-pinching all the rave during a struggling economy, is to have stay-at-home vacations, or "staycations."

"That's what you call a vacation spent at or near home, and with gas prices still climbing in a belt-tightening economy, the Schwarzes are among the many Americans expecting to be in their backyards a lot this summer," according to a recent Associated Press story.

The story cited a Rand McNally survey, which found two-thirds plan to shorten or cancel summer road trips.

Al Behrman/The Associated Press

Retailers including Wal-Mart are trying to take advantage of that trend by rolling back prices on items including DVD players and barbecue accessories such as grills and sauce. Landscaping supplies are also hot these days.

But here's the rub: What if you are like many other people who don't have backyards? Being couped up inside watching movies on gorgeous, bright-blue summer days because you can't afford the gas to go somewhere, let alone the lodging, isn't something you'd euphemistically call a "staycation." Probably a "just shoot me now vacation."

Consider this cheaper alternative: Camping or staying at a cabin closer to home, say somewhere here in North Carolina or Virginia, or at least make a day trip out of it. Lots of great places to explore. Fox 8 put together a pretty cool interactive map highlighting some road trip hot spots.

Plenty of good deals on groceries in the Triad this week:

Harris Teeter has buy one, get one free deals on items including fresh boneless chicken breasts and 12-packs of Coke.

Lowes Foods has 10 for $10 deals on items including: 2-liter Pepsi, Lowes pizza sauce, yellow and red bell peppers, baby carrots, Lowes paper towels, napkins, detergent.

Kmart has 10 for $10 deals on items including: Ragu pasta sauce, roma tomatoes, Oscar Mayer meats, Tyson chicken, Michelina's frozen dinners, Lipton pasta sides.

Food Lion has buy one, get one free deals on items including Food Lion raw, large shrimp, Kraft barbecue sauce, Breyers ice cream, Canadian deli maple or black forest ham.

Donate your items to Goodwill such as clothes at the Greensboro Grasshoppers' main gate during game day on Fridays and get a coupon good toward a free basket of Ham's potato chips. Normally $3.99.

AOL has a section on deals by retailers eager to get their hands on your tax rebate check.

Convert your check to a Sears, Kmart, or Land's End gift card and they'll give you another gift card worth 10 percent of that value.

Includes a description of the deal and the catch, if there is one.