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Letter to the editor

Tips to stretch your budget

By LEONORA LAPETER ANTON, Times Staff Writer
Published August 6, 2007

As you take a break from sales tax on clothes, books and school supplies this week (Aug. 4-13), here are five more ways to save money that might be a bit less obvious than the 50 percent off rack at Macy's:

1. Go to efloridacoupons.com: The Web site has discounts on everything from restaurants and entertainment to pet grooming and beauty services. Find coupons from Hernando, Hillsborough, Pasco, Pinellas, Manatee and Polk counties that you can print directly from the Web site.

2. Get a free trip: Volunteer to be bumped the next time you fly. You might be delayed anyway these days. If the airline takes you up on it, you may get a free plane ticket in exchange for waiting for the next flight.

3. Place a bid: Go to any number of bidding sites, such as ubid.com, and get anything from a fancy watch or a flat screen television for prices much lower than what you'd pay in the store. Typically, they are trying to get rid of five or six of the items. My husband has purchased five watches this way and all are very good quality. Still, buyer beware.

4. Go for the low flow: Get $100 if you replace your toilet with an ultralow flow toilet 1.6 gallons or less per flush. This program for Pinellas residents ends Sept. 30. An onsite verification must be completed by Sept. 27 to be eligible for a rebate. Call (727) 725-2604 or e-mail PinellasULFTRebates@hotmail.com

5. Be spontaneous. Head to a Bucs game (this works for concerts too) without a ticket or a parking pass. Park further away and you'll save the $20 it costs to park close to Raymond James Stadium. Plus you'll get some exercise. At the front gate, you'll find folks willing to sell their tickets, many for as low as $10 to $20 apiece. I saw a group of 10 get tickets this way during one game. They sat in the end zone at the picnic tables so they could be together.

[Last modified August 5, 2007, 21:47:17]