MoneySmart

Vets eat free Wednesday at Applebee's

Current and former members of the military will eat free at Applebee's Wednesday Nov. 11 in honor of Veteran's Day.

Veterans can choose from a specific menu of free entrees, which includes the seven-ounce house sirloin, three cheese chicken penne, fire pit bacon burger, fiesta lime chicken, chicken tenders platter and oriental chicken salad.

Proof of military service is required, such as military-issued identification or a veterans organization membership card. Showing up in military uniform or bringing a photograph of the service member in uniform also qualify as proof.

Click here to find an Applebee's near you.

---Samantha Maziarz Christmann

How to get your "Baby Einstein" refund

  

Parents who bought "Baby Einstein" toddler videos or DVDs between June 5, 2004 and Sept. 4 found out last week they can return them for up to $15.99 in cash, exchange them for a "Baby Einstein" book or compact disc, or use them toward a 25 percent discount on "Little Einstein" merchandise.

To take advantage of the refund, click here. You will be prompted to print, fill out and mail a form, which must be postmarked by March 2010. There is a limit of four refunds per household. 

The upgrade to the Disney-owned company's return policy came after the Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood raised concerns about claims the videos were educational.

Research has shown that watching an hour or more of "Baby Einstein" actually delayed development. Doctors suggest children under two years old spend no time in front of the television.

---Samantha Maziarz Christmann

Free KFC sample today

 
Don't forget--if you stop by any participating KFC restaurant today (Oct. 26), you will get one free piece of grilled chicken.

A previous promotion in May turned into a national debacle when KFC restaurants were unable to meet the overwhelming demand for the sample. A free coupon for the chicken was announced on an episode of the Oprah Winfrey Show.

---Samantha Maziarz Christmann

Gaultier to Design for Target

Another celebrity designer has signed on to create a collection for discount department store Target.

Jean Paul Gaultier, most famous for outfitting Madonna in cone bra corsets during the 1990s, will design a collection "for the American woman" which will grace racks at 250 Target stores and online at Target.com this spring.

The French designer's collection will appear from March 7 to April 11. Gaultier is the third luxury designer to lend a haute hand to the discount retailer's Designer Collaboration series. Alexander McQueen and Anna Sui have both created affordably-priced lines for the mainstream store.

---Samantha Maziarz Christmann 

Come Home to Dinner

The wind is whistling, the temperature has dropped and we're all looking forward to our favorite fall comfort foods. Wegmans kept that in mind with its Come Home to Dinner Fall Meal Ideas, picking a perfect focus for the season--the slow cooker.

Its always helpful Web site offers all kinds of great tips on how to make inexpensive, delicious meals in the energy-sipping, lifesaving, cheapskate's-best-friend appliance, which take just a little bit of prep time and cook beautifully while you're at work.

Each menu selection (which includes such greats as Slow-Cooked Italian Sausage Agrodolce for under $2 per serving) even comes with a wine pairing!

---Samantha Maziarz Christmann

Give your furniture the old switcheroo

Want a home makeover, but don't have the cash?

Who needs new furniture when you can artfully rearrange the stuff you've got? Moving things around makes a room feel fresh and can give your spirits a lift. The best part is that it doesn't cost a dime.

Among several interior design software tools available on the Better Homes and Gardens Web site is Arrange-A-Room, an awesome, free program that helps you try out room configurations without having to lug heavy furniture around the room.

All you do is pick your room shape and size, add furniture and colors and voila! You've got a pretty good idea of what you're dealing with. The site also have lots of great tools to help you try out paint colors, new kitchen cabinetry and other improvements before making a purchase.

---Samantha Maziarz Christmann

ALDI beats Porsche

The Porsche family, makers of the luxury sportscar, have fallen off the list of Germany's 10 wealthiest people. 

At the top of the list? Karl and Theo Albrecht, founders of deep-discount, no-frills grocer ALDI.

Sign of the times?

---Samantha Maziarz Christmann

Free night of theater

As a push to cultivate new audience members, theaters in Western New York and across the country are offering free tickets for shows held during the month of October. And even though some performances are sold out, it's not too late to reserve your free performance tickets through Theatre Alliance of Buffalo's partnership with the nationwide Free Night of Theater initiative.

Participating theater companies include Ujima Theatre Co.,Jewish Repertory Theatre, The Kavinoky Theatre, New Phoenix Theatre on the Park, Irish Classical Theatre Co., Theatre of Youth, Road Less Traveled Productions and MusicalFare Theatre.

Click here to find out what tickets are left and to get your own. Listings will change as performaces sell out and as seats are added.

---Samantha Maziarz Christmann

Free College Sports Channel Preview

Digital cable consumers served by Time Warner Cable will get a free preview of the CBS College Sports Network Monday Oct. 5 through Sunday Oct. 11 in honor of its Armed Forces Appreciation Week coverage.

Saturday's programming will feature the Vanderbilt at Army, Navy at Rice and Texas Christian University at Air Force football games. 

Time Warner Cable customers can tune to channel 130 (or channel 175 in Olean) and to channel 776 for high definition.

---Samantha Maziarz Christmann

Free WiFi coming to Borders

Would you like some Internet access with that coffee and magazine?

In the upcoming weeks, Borders will make free WiFi service available at "virtually all" of its stores throughout the country. It signed a deal with Verizon Communications earlier this week to provide the service, which is expected to be available by mid-October.

Click here to find your closest Borders. 

---Samantha Maziarz Christmann