The Cheapskate

If you think these prices are good, wait until you apply coupon code ENTREE.

We interrupt your regularly scheduled tech deals to bring you this important bulletin...

Food!

Specifically, restaurant food. As many of you know, Restaurant.com sells gift certificates for a fraction of their face value. And right now, you can buy them for a fraction of that fraction.

For example, $25 certificates normally sell for $10, but if you enter coupon code ENTREE at checkout, the price drops to $2. And $10 certificates, normally $4, drop to just 80 cents. Yowza.

For those unfamiliar with Restaurant.com, the only real "string" attached is a minimum food or drink purchase. However, it's not like you have to order the lobster tail and a case of wine. To use a $10 certificate, for example, your total bill usually has to be at least $20.

What's nice is that you can print the coupons right on your own printer; they're immediately ready for use. They're also transferable, so they make ideal last-minute gifts.

In these horrendous economic times, this offer is too good to pass up. Just make sure to read all the terms and conditions before you buy your certificates, just so you avoid any nasty surprises when the check comes.

Also, I'm not sure when this coupon code expires, so if you're interested, act fast. Bon appetit!

Get 20 percent off your next Denny's Grand Slam (and everything else on your bill) with this coupon.

(Credit: Denny's)

People--supermodels, mostly--often stop me in the street and say, "Rick, your tech deals are insanely awesome, but what about food? Surely finding all those bargains makes you hungry?"

Then I say, "Yes, but don't call me 'Shirley,'" and they shake their heads sadly, having realized that bloggers are just as unfunny in person as they are online.

Anyhoo, it being Friday and all, I thought I'd take a tech break and serve up some cheap eats you can score this weekend:

• This printable coupon from Boston Market (PDF) gets you 20 percent off "any restaurant purchase." I'm not sure if that means the entire bill or just one item. Anyway, it's good until October 24. I recommend printing several.
• This printable coupon from Denny's (PDF) gets you 20 percent off your entire check. It's good until October 24. I recommend printing several.
• At Jamba Juice, you can buy one smoothie and get a second one (for a friend or kindly blogger) for $1. Here's the printable coupon. It's good through September 27.
• At Papa John's, you can buy a large two-topping pizza and get a large cheese pizza for 25 cents by applying coupon code 92209 at checkout. (Obviously you have to order online.) In other words, one pizza for the grown-ups and one for the kids. Good through October 4.
• Finally, old standby Restaurant.com is offering major savings on its gift certificates when you apply coupon code TREAT. $25 certificates will cost you just $3 apiece, while $10 certificates drop to just $1.20. That's some cheap eatin'! I'm not sure when the code expires, but you should definitely check out each restaurant's requirements before purchasing.

OK, there you go, food fans. Anything here whet your appetite? Me, I'm all about the pizza, the world's most perfect food.

Also, speaking of this weekend, my CNET overlords are chaining me to my desk for the remainder of this "100 Days of Deals" holiday thingy, so check back tomorrow (and every Saturday until 2010, apparently) for another deal from yours truly.

As for Sunday, well, it's anybody's guess what those crazy "CNET Staffer" kids will come up with, but if it's as bad as last weekend, we'll all have a good laugh on Monday.

Cheapskate out. (Wow, that's a terrible sign-off.)

Use coupon code 'SAVE' to get $25 vouchers for $3.

(Credit: Restaurant.com)

Hungry? Like to dine out? Restaurant.com normally lets you buy $25 gift certificates for $10, but right now you can scoop them up for just $3 apiece. Simply enter coupon code SAVE when you get to the shopping cart.

Anyone familiar with Restaurant.com knows there are usually a few small strings attached, like a minimum food or drink purchase. However, it's not like you have to order a case of wine or anything. And you can print the coupon right on your own printer: It's immediately ready for use.

A few months back I used one of the gift certificates for a local Italian place, and except for a slight delay while the manager called to verify the coupon, everything went smoothly.

In these horrendous economic times, this deal is too good to pass up. Just make sure to read all the terms and conditions before you buy your certificates, just so you avoid any nasty surprises when the check comes. Bon appetit!

Procrastinators, rejoice! You can print a great gift in minutes.

(Credit: Amazon)

Need a last-minute gift for an office party, your trusty mail carrier, a beloved blogger, or anyone else on your list? As long as you have a printer, you can churn out something special in a matter of minutes. Here's a list of four stores that let you print your own gift certificates for in-person giving:

• Amazon.com On any Amazon page, click the Gift Cards link, then choose Print at Home. The minimum amount is $5, but you're not limited to increments: Your certificate can be in the amount of $10.57, if you want.
• Gifts.com The recipient of a Gifts.com certificate can redeem it at one or more of a hundred-plus stores and restaurants, including Barnes & Noble, Pottery Barn, and Starbucks.
• iTunes Obviously, you can grab an iTunes gift card in just about any store on the planet, but did you know you can print your own? Just fire up iTunes, click Buy iTunes Gifts, and then choose Printable Gift Certificates. Amounts range from $10 to $200.
• Restaurant.com Once again, Restaurant.com is offering $25 gift certificates for just $2 (with coupon code HOLIDAY). Not familiar with the site? Get the details from my previous post.

Forget $10: You can get a $25 coupon for just $2!

(Credit: Restaurant.com)

Remember the Restaurant.com deal from a couple weeks ago? Well, it's back! From now until Halloween (aka October 31), you can get a $25 gift certificate for a restaurant in your area for just $2. Just enter coupon code TREATS when you get to the shopping cart.

There are a few conditions, of course, usually in the form of a minimum food or drink purchase. However, it's not as if you have to order a case of wine or anything. And you can print the coupon right on your own printer: It's immediately ready for use.

Last time out, the restaurant I wanted was "out of stock," but this morning I was able to nab a $25 coupon for just two bucks. In these heinous economic times, that's too good to pass up.

As one reader pointed out previously, do make sure to read all the terms and conditions before you buy, just so you avoid any nasty surprises when the check comes. Bon appetit!

(Credit: Restaurant.com)

Ever tried Restaurant.com? Me neither, but I've heard good things. Basically, you search for a participating fooderie in your area, then buy a gift certificate on the cheap: $3 for a $10 certificate, for example, or $10 for $25.

There are requirements, of course, usually in the form of a minimum food and/or drink purchase. But it's not like you have to order a case of wine or anything. And you can print the coupon right on your own printer: It's immediately ready for use.

To make an already good deal even better, Restaurant.com is offering a whopping 80 percent off $10 certificates (which, again, are good for $25 worth of food). Just enter coupon code EIGHTY at the checkout after you've chosen your restaurant.

This deal expires tomorrow, October 15. I know this isn't a tech bargain, but, hey, you gotta eat, right? How can you pass up a $25 gift certificate for two bucks? Anyway, if you've used Restaurant.com in the past, hit the Comments and tell your fellow cheapskates how it went.

(Credit: Restaurant.com)

Ever tried Restaurant.com? Me neither, but I've heard good things. Basically, you search for a participating restaurant in your area, then buy a gift certificate on the cheap: $3 for a $10 certificate, for example, or $10 for $25. There are requirements, of course, usually in the form of a minimum food and/or drink purchase. But it's not like you have to order three bottles of wine or anything. And you can print the coupon right on your own printer: It's immediately ready for use.

To make an already good deal even better, Restaurant.com is offering 50 percent off $10 certificates (which, once again, are good for $25' worth of food). Just enter coupon code ENJOY at the checkout after you've chosen your restaurant. This deal expires April 13.

If you've used Restaurant.com in the past, hit the Comments and tell your fellow 'Skaters how it went. Bon appetit!

(Via Deals2Buy)