@SavingOnClt wants to salute our country's bravest-- the veterans. 

We thank you for all you do. And we've helped you map out a day of FREE meals and GREAT deals. Some of these expire Sunday, we'll start with those.

VBGB Uptown - NC Music Factory
Free pretzel and beer cheese

@SUBWAY 
Free six-inch sub or flatbread

KRISPY KREME
Free Donut

OLIVE GARDEN
Free meal ( modified menu: http://olivegarden.com/Menu/Specials/#veterans_day )
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Now onto the freebies that carry into Monday. You can eat like a KING on Monday in Charlotte, style yourself with some new threads, and even enjoy a trip to a national park.

Denny's
Free all you can eat pancakes
http://bit.ly/RR5J6x (other great deals on this site too!)

Friendly's 

Free Breakfast

http://on.fb.me/UwtZ2o

California Pizza Kitchen

Free Pizza and Beverage

http://on.fb.me/UhOQAt

Sizzler

Free Lunch

http://www.sizzler.com/VetsDay12.pdf

Golden Corral

Free meal

http://www.goldencorral.com/military/

Outback

Free Bloomin' Onion & Coke (how about an appetizer at Outback, and dinner somewhere else!)

http://outback.com/companyinfo/veteransday.aspx

Lone Star Steak House

Free entree

http://www.lonestarsteakhouse.com/

Brooks Brothers

70% Off

http://bit.ly/SFt2Pw

National Parks

Free Admission

http://www.nps.gov/findapark/feefreeparks.htm

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And here's a deal that could apply to anyone!
Share a shout out for a veteran YOU know, for a chance at some Subway gift cards! 

(From @SUBWAY)
Give a shout out to a veteran in your life & tag it with#SUBWAYSalutes for a chance to win gift cards! RULES: http://bit.ly/VXqU6S

Saving On Christmas (more ideas)

We keep looking for more Christmas gift ideas... and keep finding them! Here are some more inexpensive ideas. Let us know what you see and we'll share.

homemade ipod/iphone charging holder 

handmade braided scarf (all you need are 2 t-shirts)

For Someone Who Just Got Married

For Dads - A Circular Saw Pizza Cutter

Christmas Gift Ideas (Part 1)

It's about that time of year when people start racking (or wracking, depending on your spelling preferences) their brains for Christmas gift ideas. Maybe you're ahead of the game. Maybe your closet is filled to the brim with gifts already. I'm about halfway through my shopping. But I'm always looking for creative and affordable ways to show the people I care about how much I love them.

I posted some fun and affordable gift ideas here. And I'll keep them coming as I see them. Let me know what you find, we'll gladly share.

Some of these options are local to Charlotte, others you'd have to order online.

Personalized Guitar Picks -$12.95

Light Saber Chopsticks - $9.99

An Idea For The Chef- $4

DIY Coasters - As much as you want to spend

Charlotte Skyline Photos - Prices Vary

Gifts Knitted By You - 15% Off Classes in NoDa if you take a friend. 10% Off Supplies

And If you want to give back this Christmas

Let The College Football Begin

Charlotte will see thousands of visitors this weekend. Some will be donned in garnet & black, others draped in purple and gold.

Whichever team you pull for at Bank of America stadium (we'll be head to toe in garnet), the deals abound!

Let's start with the Pirates. The alumni association will host a 'Pirates' Night Out' celebration Friday night. It's at Whisky River in the EpiCentre from 7 p.m. - 9 p.m. It's a free event with light bar snacks. They also offered a free drink ticket to the first 100 people to RSVP (but the deadline has passed). For everyone else: a cash bar.

The Gamecock alumni association in the queen city hopes to paint Charlotte garnet. From 6 until 8 Friday night: Free food at Moe's in the EpiCentre for anyone in Gamecock attire. Then it's onto live music and a pep rally atop the EpiCentre at the Pavilion . After 11, it's onto Blackfinn and Wild Wings. It also looks like the fine folks at @CLTGamecocks have some plans for a few yards:

The Gamecocks are also hosting festivities at the NC Music Factory including game ticket giveaways

So there you have it. Who has the better plan? Rival fans pre-gaming in the same location Friday night could get interesting. Let us know what you think at @savingonclt (and as you can probably tell, our money lies on the Gamecocks).

Making The Super Double Count

Anytime a receipt from the grocery store is this long, it must be a good thing.

Harris Teeter is in the middle of its Super Double coupon event right now. It lasts through Tuesday night (official rules). Here's the basic rundown for coupon newbies: Harris Teeter will double any coupon you have. The highest the store will go is $1.98 (example: a coupon for 50 cents becomes $1. A coupon for $1 becomes $1.98. A coupon for $1.50 also cuts off at $1.98).

We did some late-night shopping Sunday at the Uptown Harris Teeter location (map it). We spent $80.21 and saved $50.33 (with coupons combined with the VIC card). The coupons we use are 100% from the Charlotte Observer over the last few weeks or from Harris Teeter (the printouts they give you when you check out). The best trick to maximize savings is to use coupons for items already on sale.

Here are the best places to save if you gather coupons the same way.

Best Buy: 
Sure Deodorant
Normal Price: $2.85
VIC Price: $1.99
Coupon: The Observer had a coupon on 8/14 for $1 off (doubled to $1.98)
Total: 1 cent
Savings: $2.84

Decent finds:
V8 Splash juice (2)
Normal Price: $6.70 for both
VIC Price: $5 for both
Coupon: $1 off 2 from Observer (doubled to $1.98)
Total for 2: $3.02
Savings: $3.68

Bic Disposable Razor (we bought Soleil)
Normal Price: $6.49
VIC Price: $4.99
Coupon: $3 off from Observer (too high to double)
Total: $1.99
Savings: $4.50

Pantene Shampoo & Conditioner
Normal Price: $8.90 for both
VIC Price: $7 for both
Coupon: $1 off both from Observer (doubled to $1.98)
Total: $5.02
Savings: $3.88

Ragu Pasta Sauce (3)
Normal Price: $8.37 for 3
VIC Price: $6.87 for 3
Coupon: 60 cents off 3 (doubled to $1.20)
Total: $5.67 for 3
Savings: $2.70

Playtex Tampons
Normal Price: $5.29
VIC Price: $4.99
Coupon: $1 off from HT printout coupon (doubled to $1.98)
Total: $3.01
Savings: $2.28

Your Home Toilet Paper (12 pack)
Normal Price: $7.49
VIC Price: $6.77
Coupon: $3 off from Observer (too high to double)
Total: $3.77
Savings: $3.72

Your Home Paper Towels (8 pack)
Normal Price: $7.99
Vic Price: $5.99
Coupon: $3 off from Observer (too high to double)
Total: $2.99
Savings: $5

We will never brag about our math skills. So please feel free to double check our work (yes, we did use a calculator for this post). Let us know what super double steals you were able to find and we'll share them. Just tweet us (@savingonclt) or e-mail us (savingoncharlotte@gmail.com).

E-Mail Lists Worth Joining

Many companies offer small deals if you sign up for their e-mail lists. Some even send you deals on your birthday. We've signed up for dozens of lists to bring you the best deals we can find. This blog will focus on three that have paid off.

1. Ri Ra - Go to this page and click on the 'pub club' tab. They send out periodic updates. And on your birthday, they'll send you a deal for $10 off your next purchase. Not too shabby.

2. Moe's - Here you can subscribe to 'Moe's E-World'. When you turn a year older, they'll send you a free entree. The coupon's expiration date comes quickly though, so you'll want to use it quickly.

3. Noodles & Company - This is a link to join the E-club. For your birthday, you get a free bowl of noodles, making this a good choice for anyone not on the Atkins Diet.


We also found 2 companies that seemingly skimp on the birthday freebies. Bruegger's offers a free cookie and TCBY gives a dollar or two off frozen yogurt (this makes @savingonclt yawn).

As always, we recommend setting up a dummy e-mail address account. Create one that you only use for spam. That way, you can weed through the e-mails you want when you want them, and delete the ones you're not interested when you feel like it.

Saving On Father's Day

We tracked down some of the best Father's Day deals we could find (and left out the lame ones other blogs keep posting. who really wants to take their dad to Ikea for a free breakfast that normally would only cost you $2?). We also left out the restaurants that do not have Charlotte locations (even found one that has a Charlotte franchise-- but the deal does not apply here). We're also posting any hooks or catches to the bargain.


Here's what we found. Click on the company name for details.
And send us what you find that may be different. We love sharing.


Restaurant Deals
McCormick & Schmick's: $30 for a 3-course meal
Smokey Bones: Dads eat free (with the purchase of one meal. you also have to join the bones club. the free meal can be up to $20)
Cheesecake Factory: Free slice of cheesecake for every $30 you spend
Morton's Steakhouse: $69 for a 3-course meal
Ruth's Cris: $39.95 for a 3-course meal (I would call ahead on this one. It's not a Father's Day-specific deal. It may be gone before the holiday comes).
Cold Stone Creamery: 20% off purchase (this is not father's day specific - grab it and use it anytime!)
Restaurant.com: Use the code FATHER to get even more off the already-discounted gift certificates.


Gifts
Free Photo Collage: From Walgreen's (8x10). Use the coupon code GOBIG8X10
Hallmark: Personalized gift idea deals. Some are up to $15 off.
T-Mobile: This one is strange. Dad can get a free phone at T-Mobile on Father's day. You have to sign a 2-year contract for a family plan. The link has some FAQ answers. This is a strange one, but a great deal if it works for you.


Contests You Can Enter For Pops
Dream Kitchen: Dad like cooking? get him his dream kitchen. Must enter by 6/15
Pocket Video Camera: Submit a photo of you and your dad to Women's Day Magazine to win a free pocket video camera.


For The Long Distance Dad
You can always go with the classic flowers.
Visit this site before you order online to get deals on shipping and other discounts.
Deals To More Than A Dozen Flower Sites


It Won't Work
Noodles is advertising a free bowl of noodles for dads. But we looked into the specifics and the online rules show it does not apply to any location in North Carolina.