Best Father's Day Present. Ever.

I saw this today and was so excited. This is a gift certificate for an airplane ride where you are the pilot - a real, in-flight pilot! Granted, the instructor is with you but STILL. You know your Dad or Hubby would go crazy for this!! I know mine will. Best of all, it's half price today on Groupon and there are aviation locations across the country. The certificate doesn't expire until 2012 so, if you have already gotten your Father's Day gift, think ahead to their birthday or Christmas.

1. If you are new to Groupon, sign up here, then complete the following steps to locate the deal.
2. Current Groupon members should go here.
3. Select the drop down arrow and choose Birmingham, AL then look for "Discovery Flight and Ground Lesson" on the right side.
4. Purchase.

Check out this cool video that shows an example of what happens in flight.

*HOT* Old Navy Groupon

Groupon released a new deal late this afternoon but it's not too late to snag it. But you better hurry as I doubt this will still be around tomorrow.

You can get a $20 gift certificate for only $10. You have until 7/31 to use it (in-store only). I'm grabbing this and hoping to maybe use it for uniforms when they go on sale (Groupon is valid on sale merchandise).

• If you are new to Groupon, you will need to sign up here. Plus, new members get a $5 credit.
• Current members can go here to score this deal.
• Limit 1 per person.

Vacation for a Fraction of the Cost

We are just 3 short weeks away from a little trip I like to call "School's Out For Summer." We will be spending a weekend in Chattanooga and I'm already scoring deals left and right.

Here's how you can have a fun vacation on the cheap too.

• Plan. My husband has a very laid back approach to vacationing but, in the back of his mind, he has a list of things he would like to do. I'm the exact opposite. I would be perfectly fine with a scheduled itinerary for every day of the trip. However, in order to save some money we have to meet in the middle because, typically, deals don't just fall in your lap after you show up. You gotta find them before you go.
• Hotel. Reservations are necessary to ensure you have lodging. I used Hotels.com to score a great price on a hotel that also serves complimentary breakfast. Be sure to look for those extra perks when you choose your accommodations. Also, Hotels.com has a reward program that earns you 1 FREE night for every 5 nights you stay (does not have to be consecutive).
• Dining. Hotel will have breakfast taken care of but we know that we will need at least 5 meals (2 dinners + 3 lunches) while we are at our destination. I've been following daily deal sites like Groupon & Living Social (new subscribers get $5) in my destination city, as well as Restaurant.com to find gift certificates for half price or less.
• Attractions. For this trip, we decided on 2 big things (1 each day) that we definitely wanted to see or do. I've been scouring Ebay & Craigslist for deals on those attraction tickets. So far, I've been able to save at least 50%, which is huge because these attractions are pretty pricey.
• Snacks. We are all big snackers. To save us from having to purchase these on the road, I will be packing a small cooler with food and drinks. I also plan to prepare small baggies of snacks to take with us while we are out and about each day.
• Gas. There isn't a whole lot you can do here and it always seems that gas prices rise in the summer. :( I like to take advantage of the Publix gas card coupons that will save you $10 off a $50 gift card to BP or Shell. They run these promotions about once every 4-6 weeks. I also use the Gas Buddy app on my phone to locate the cheapest gas in whatever area we are traveling. Sometimes it's worth it to go just one more exit.
• Cash Back. If I'm doing any sort of online purchase, I always go through Ebates. All of the retail links above can be shopped through Ebates where you earn a percentage back on your purchase. For example, right now, they are offering 15% cash back at Restaurant.com when you shop through their site.

A little planning really does go a long way as far as saving money on vacation. At this point, we know what attractions we are going to see and where we are going to eat but I'm leaving the WHEN up to hubby. See, I can compromise. :)

Do you feel like any of the above tips will help you save money on your summer vacation?

Have a Great Vacation on the Cheap

Are you taking a family vacation this summer? Are you looking for ways to save? Here are my top 10 tips for finding deals and saving on a great family vacation.

1. Airfare - Personally, if Southwest doesn't fly there we just don't go. They are my favorite airline by far. DING! is an application that you download which will notify you of deep discounts on Southwest airfare.
2. Frequent Flyer Card - No matter what airline you fly, you should definitely make sure you are registered for their frequent flyer program. Eventually all those flights can add up for a FREE one. This is also a great way to earn other rewards (drink tickets, discounts, ect.) depending on the carrier.
3. Hotels - My favorite site for getting the best deal on accommodations is Hotels.com. They also have a reward program that earns you a FREE night once you stay 5 nights anywhere.
4. Entertainment - A great way to save on activities and entertainment is by watching the Groupon deals for the city you plan on traveling to. You can save at least 50% or more by purchasing these in advance.
5. Food - For restaurant deals you can check Restaurant.com and save 50%-90% on food gift certificates.
6. Use your current memberships - If you have a zoo or discovery center membership, find out if they are part of a national program. Often times, you will receive FREE admission to the same establishment in another city or at least a discount.
7. Get paid to vacation - When booking any sort of flights, car rentals, or accommodations I always shop through Ebates first. For example, when booking at Hotels.com you can also earn 4% back!
8. Choose your dates - The best rates are generally during the off season and during the week. If possible, plan your vacation during these times.
9. Look for blogs - Search for specific blogs or websites that specialize in your travel destination. When I was planning our Disney vacation one of my favorite sources of valuable information was Mouse Savers.
10. Check with friends - If you know of someone who has been to your destination before ask if you can pick their brain for details. They may be able to offer valuable advice on things to avoid, which may not be worth the cost. They also may be able to suggest activities that were totally worth it!

Do you have any tips for finding vacation deals? Share them in the comments below or let me know where you will be vacationing this summer.

I wrote this blog post while participating in the SocialMoms and Alamo blogging program, for a gift card worth $25. For more information on how you can participate, click here.

Earn Swagbucks when you buy Groupons or Living Social Deals

Guess what! You can now earn Swagbucks when you buy Groupons. It's a double win!

Here's how. First things first:

If you are new to Groupon, you will need to sign up.

If you are new to Living Social, you will need to sign up.

If you are new to Swagbucks, you will need to sign up. (Learn more here)

Now, when you are looking at the Swagbucks homepage toolbar (at the top), go to Earn>Daily Deals. Scroll down and click the tab for Local Deals. Click on any deal you want to buy and follow the steps to complete your purchase.

I am a BIG fan of Groupon and Living Social and Swagbucks. I was thrilled when I learned that I could work both programs for more savings!

Free Week of Yoga + Monthly Deal

Did you know that September is National Yoga Month? In honor of this event, studios around the country are offering a FREE week of Yoga. Go here to get your Yoga Month Card. You have until October 31st to use it. (Valid for new students only)

**Nashville readers please see below**

Hot Yoga House in Rivergate is on the list of participating studios and that's where I am planning to use my free week. My friend Hannah invited me to a Hot Yoga class last month and I loved it! I am definitely a beginner but I was not overwhelmed at all. Honestly, I hate exercising but this felt REALLY good and it was a GREAT workout. I've wanted to go back but money is really tight around here. Imagine my delight when I see that today's Groupon is for an unlimited month at Hot Yoga House for only $30!

Anyone else want to join me in this new adventure? I think it will be fun!

Get this Groupon for yourself. If you are new to Groupon, sign up here.

Get Cheap Toilet Paper, Paper Towels & more!

The Atlanta Groupon for today is a $20 gift certificate to soap.com for only $10. That's saving 50% right there! The code also gets you FREE 1-2 day shipping. If you are a first time customer, you can also use code SOAPSPLASH to save an additional 15%.

Soap.com has WAY more than just soap. They sell...

• paper products
• cleaning products
• bath & body
• hair and skin care
• makeup
• medicine & vitamins
• and more!

Here's how to take advantage of this deal.

1. Are you new to Groupon? Sign up here.
2. Current Groupon members can sign in here and search for Atlanta.
3. Purchase your Groupon. It is valid from 9/30/10 - 12/28/10.
4. Don't forget to shop through Ebates to get up to 5.5% cash back. (New members, get $5 to start!)
5. Shop soap.com and use code SOAPSPLASH. Make sure you have at least $20 in your cart after the code.
6. Use your Groupon at checkout!

Because soap.com is an online company, it does not matter if you don't live in Atlanta. This will work nationwide.

Thanks iGoBOGO and Wild for Wags!

Groupon: Shutterfly 20-page book only $10

I know it's September but there has a been a bit of a nip in the air. In my mind, that makes it okay to start thinking about Christmas. Today's Groupon would make a wonderful Christmas present especially for a parent or grandparent.

Get a 20-page 8x8 hardcover photo book for only $10. You have until November 22nd to order. These books are super easy to make. I actually make one annually to look back over what we did the previous year.

1. If you are new to Groupon, go here to sign up.

2. Current members should go here.

3. Select your city (this appears to be nationwide today only).

4. Purchase your Groupon.

*If you are new to Shutterfly you will also get 50 FREE prints when you sign up.

Movie Tickets for only $4 - HURRY!

This is a great offer! Get a movie ticket from Fandango for only $4 with this Groupon deal.

1. New members will need to go HERE to sign up!

2. Then go to THIS LINK and click Buy!

*You have until February 28, 2011 to use it.

(Originally spotted on I Heart Publix & Wild for Wags)

Get $50 at GAP for only $25

Have you tried Groupon yet? This is a site where you can get amazing deals in your area on food, clothing, activities, entertainment and more at deep discounts. The deals are usually specific to your area but today's deal is nationwide.

Get a $50 GAP certificate for only $25. This deal is HOT!!! Hop on over and snag yours right now. Remember, Groupon deals are limited so go here to sign up and get started.