Welcome to TBO.com. Skip directly to: our Keyword Search, Section Navigation, Content.

TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

TBO.com - Tampa Bay Online

Free and Cheap

Janine Dorsey

Janine is a 20-year veteran journalist who puts her sleuthing skills to use unearthing deals and discounts for families in the Tampa Bay area. Raising her own two daughters has taught her that some of the best things in life are “free” but not necessarily “cheap.”

Gayle Guyardo

Gayle Guyardo co-anchors “News Channel 8 Today” weekday mornings with Rod Carter. She does a special segment, “Ways to save today,” each Monday between 6 a.m. and 7 a.m. Gayle is a third generation Tampa native and a graduate of Auburn University. She and her husband Mark raise four little girls - Katie, Lindsay, Ali and Ella.

Todd Davis

Todd Davis is a photojournalist with News Channel 8’s investigative team. When he’s not tracking down a story, he’s hunting down a good deal.

Michael Egger

Michael Egger, News Channel 8 photojournalist and father of three, gets four Sunday papers delivered so he and his wife can double up coupons on BOGOs. The deals are out there, so let’s find them. He vows never to pay retail.

Richard Mullins

The Tampa Tribune’s retail reporter, Richard Mullins writes about consumer trends and everything you buy at the mall, grocery stores and restaurants. He believes credit cards are the window to our souls. And yes, he gets paid to wander the mall for work.

Debbie Swartz

Debbie, a 20-year veteran journalist, can typically be found at the end of Target aisles looking at clearance items. She’s also been known to send one her young daughters through the checkout lane to redeem a coupon.

Blog Search

Most Recent Entries

Monthly Archives

Free bonuses with restaurant gift cards

Posted Dec 7, 2011 by Janine Dorsey

Updated Dec 7, 2011 at 01:38 PM

More restaurant gift card deals have come to our attention.

Ruby Tuesday is offering a free $15 bonus coupon when you buy $50 in gift cards.

Sweet Tomatoes is making giving their gift cards even sweeter by throwing in a free “meal pass” with a $50 purchase.

Outback Steakhouse lets you design your own custom gift cards on their website. Plus, they are adding a $20 bonus with every $100 gift card purchase.

If you want to see the others we have written about, click here.

(0) Read Comments

Save on family haircuts

Posted Dec 7, 2011 by Janine Dorsey

Updated Dec 7, 2011 at 11:24 AM

Unless you’re rocking that bald as a cue ball look, you might be interested in ways to save on hair maintenance.

A recent press release from Great Clips styling salons made us look to see where else you can get a good haircut without a lot of cha-ching.

The new Great Clips Value Card allows you to “stock up” on $9.99 haircuts by pre-paying for them. You lock in the discount price and then use the card at each subsequent visit. You must purchase the card in person at a participating salon.

If you want to get cuts for totally free, try to win a year’s worth of haircuts on their site while you’re there.

Supercuts also has a way to save with their haircut reminder service. Earn a $2 coupon when you first start up your profile and $1 off coupons with each reminder email you receive.

Ask for a frequent haircut card at the counter and after you get eight stamps your ninth haircut is free. This deal works great for families as eight haircuts pass quickly when divided among several heads.

If you have time and patience, then beauty schools may be your best option for saving money.

All the work is performed by students in training, but closely supervised by a trainer. It takes a little longer and you may be subjected to a lengthy wait if you go at a busy time. However, the savings can be substantial.

For example, a wash, cut and style for a child under 12 is only $7 for short hair at Manahattan Hair Styling Academy, located on Manhattan Avenue in South Tampa.

The Paul Mitchell Beauty School also offers cut and style combos for as little as $12.

Like Manhattan, they also offer hair coloring and other spa services for those who want to save on those types of things as well.

(0) Read Comments

Fresh Market Tuesday deals

Posted Dec 6, 2011 by Janine Dorsey

Updated Dec 6, 2011 at 11:18 AM

The Tuesday deals continue at The Fresh Market.

Stock up on seafood at this high-end retailer on these weekly discount days.

On all the Tuesdays of December (6,13,20,27), get buy-one-get-one free fresh farm-raised Atlantic salmon fillets for $11.99 lb. This deal makes the fresh fish just $5.99 a lb.

Also BOGO, Maryland-style three oz. crab cakes are $3.99, making them $1.99 each.

(0) Read Comments

Free Christmas fun for kids

Posted Dec 6, 2011 by Janine Dorsey

Updated Dec 6, 2011 at 11:17 AM

More free entertainment options exist for occupying the kids during the winter break.

To get in the Christmas spirit, check out these festivities taking place at Clearwater libraries:

Main Library, 100 N. Osceola Ave.
• Largo High School Madrigal Singers – Thursday, Dec. 15, 3 p.m. Holiday music for all ages.
• Holiday Crafts with Miss Connie – Saturday, Dec. 17, 2 p.m. Registration required. Grades K and up. Create crafts to celebrate the holiday season.
• Preschool Holiday Crafts – Saturday, Dec. 17, 2 p.m. Young children will have plenty of fun with simple holiday crafts.
• Green Gifts – Saturday, Dec. 17, 2:30 p.m. Teens can recycle old clothing into new gifts. Bring an old t-shirt or jeans, or choose from our selection. Your choice of several projects.
• The Little Snow Girl & Other Holiday Tales – Tuesday, Dec. 20, 2 p.m. Watch Katie Adams as she performs multicultural holiday stories with audience participation.
• Holiday Showtime with Dascaloja Puppeteers – Tuesday, Dec. 27, 2 p.m. A holiday puppet show for children featuring “Santa Calls” by William Joyce, “Frosty the Snowman” and multi-cultural songs.

North Greenwood Library, 905 N. Martin Luther King, Jr., Ave.
• 2nd Annual Posada Party & Holiday Sing-Along: Saturday, Dec. 17, 1 p.m. Enjoy Mexican and American holiday traditions, with crafts, a piñata, hot drinks, holiday treats and a sing-along.

(0) Read Comments