I Was Approved For Zipcar's Low Car Diet

I thought I'd give everyone an update on my Low Car Diet. I applied back in June (here) and found out recently that I was approved. Woohoo!

So far, only the zipcar card has shown up. There is a kick off event coming up this Monday 7/21 but unfortunately I can't go (that pesky day job again - ruining all my fun). As part of the low car diet they're giving away a bunch of awesome schwag as well at the kick off. Here's an excerpt from the latest email:

We're going to hook you up with some Charlie Card credit to scoot around the city and out of traffic. Vitamin water to keep you hydrated on your travels. Once you get your metabolism pumped and the fitness bug hits you, make a trip over to Equinox Fitness in Back Bay to get a free one week experience at their premium health club. When you have some down time, walk or T it over to the New England Aquarium with your free pass. Got the mojo for some social sporting? Then the Boston Ski Sports Clubs free membership and Clif Bar will keep your energy up when living 'la vie sportive.' And if you want to hop into a Zipcar, use that $100 in driving time to convey you over to Whole Foods and use their $25 gift card and take your haul home in a cool reusable shopping tote.

So I actually did spend some time thinking about what driving I could cut out. Here's the top few that I can definitely stop driving to and take the T or walk instead:

1. Cambridgeside Galleria
2. My friend dwillen's house.
3. Grocery Store (I'm going to T it over to the Prudential Center one)
4. Trader Joes (Goto the one on Boylston instead of the one on Mem Drive)

And the one place that I will still have to drive to and hence will use the Zipcar:

1. Costco (I love me some Costco)

I exchanged a couple of emails with the Zipcar Boston folks and they've agreed to mail me all the stuff from the kick-off event since I won't be able to pick it up in person. woot.

I'll post a review later on of my first Zipcar experience once I get a chance to test it out.

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Is that BU Jamba Juice Still Around?

I haven't been to the BU area in quite some time. Is the Jamba Juice still there? I tried to use the store locator and it didn't turn up. Maybe I was doing something wrong.

Anyway, if you go to the Jamba Juice website, there's a Buy One Get One Free coupon if you register on their site and submit your email address.

I could definitely go for a smoothie right now. It's been pretty hot out these last few days - excellent summer weather.

On a side note, I went for a ~3.3 mile run yesterday outside for the first time in probably a year (I've been doing strictly treadmill lately) to see if I could even attempt to train for the half marathon (here) - and the answer is probably not. I've been spoiled running on a treadmill in an air conditioned gym. Hitting the pavement in the summer heat is way more difficult.

Click (here) to go to the site to get your coupon.

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Free Zipcar Membership and $100 Credit

About six months ago, Zipcar had a promotion for a one year membership for free. I passed because I already have a car so I didn't see a need to join even if it was free. This new promotion though - the low car diet - hooked me.

Here's how it works. You agree to keep your car keys in your junk drawer for just one month, from July 21st through August 15th. In return, you get a loaded public transit pass, a free 1-year Zipcar membership, some driving time and more goodies that we'll tell you about a little later.

The free credit is what got me. This way I can try Zipcar absolutely free. Maybe one day I will make the switch. Here's what the screen showed up after I signed up.

Group: Low Car Diet 2008 - Boston Thanks for participating in the Zipcar Low-Car Diet! As part of the program you are entitled to a FREE 1-year Zipcar membership + $100 in FREE driving credit for the month. Please proceed and fill out the member application to get your very own Zipcard. No deposit. No monthly commitment.

This actually works out really well because the garage I currently park in has a couple of Zipcars in it. This way, I can walk to the same garage and just grab a Zipcar instead of my own. Free car, free gas, w00t w00t.

Also, I really want to try driving a Prius and see what all the hooplah is about. Would also be nice to drive that BMW zipcar I saw at the garage - I've never driven one before.

Click (here) to sign up for yourself.

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Promo Code For Boston Globe Travel Show

Happy Hump Day Everyone! Hope you'll be out and about partying tonight. I will be spending the evening at my new accountant's office working on my taxes. Yeah I know, I'm a loser. Have a drink for me.

But as is customary, it's Wednesday so I'm already thinking about the weekend (although I usually start on Mondays). The Boston Globe Travel Show is coming up this weekend at the Seaport World Trade Center and I've got a 2 for 1 coupon code for you.

The 2-day event is New England’s biggest and most comprehensive travel expo. At the show, attendees can learn about new and exciting travel opportunities—budget vacations, cruises, tours, adventure travel, weekend getaways, exotic destinations, luxury escapes, and more—and book trips at incredible savings, right on the show floor.

I've just about had it with the cold. I don't have many vacation days but it might be interesting to hear about some of those weekend getaways. I hear that Bermuda is quite nice and also a very quick flight. Click (here) to go to the official website for more info and to purchase your tix to the show and use promo code: BGTS241 to get the 2 for 1 deal.

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Digital TV Coupons Available Today

If you haven't been following the news on the tv front, the government has mandated that starting February 18, 2009 all tv transmissions are going digital. What does that mean? It means that if you have an old school tv, you're not going to be able to use it anymore unless you get a digital converter box.

Starting today, the federal government is giving away $40 coupons (2 per household) for those above-mentioned converter boxes. The Globe has an article with some of the details of the program. Here is the part that bothers me the most.

"The giveaway basically works under the honor system."

No offense to society, but in my opinion the honor system never works. The coupons are on a first come first serve basis, so get your coupons early if you need them. You can be sure that scheming folks out there are going to be requesting them in order to resell them on ebay or craigslist- it's a $40 coupon after all.

Click (here) to submit your application for your coupons. Click (here) to read the article in the Globe for yourself.

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1 Year Free Zipcar Membership or $10 Coupon

Looks like BostonNOW and Zipcar are teaming up for a holiday promotion that will allow new subscribers to get 1 Year Membership for FREE! My favorite price. =)

Congratulations & Happy Holidays! You have received a free 1 year membership to Zipcar! This is a savings of $75.

No deposit. No monthly commitment.

What does it cost to drive?
From $9/hour and $68/day (any 24-hour period), depending on the car model. Gas, reserved parking, insurance and 180 FREE miles* are included.

What about housemates or family?
Once you join, you can add other drivers to your account. It's $25 to apply. There's a $50 annual fee. You may wish you weren't related — but they'll at least be happy about it.

Click (here) for a link to the promo page and save yourself $75 bucks.

For those of you that are already members here's a $10 coupon code. Go (here) to redeem the coupon and login using your user id. Then use coupon code "ZIPBOSNOW" to claim your $10. The code expires on Feb 04, 2008.

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Shear Madness Discount Code

I went to go see Shear Madness the very first year I was in Boston. It was interesting, pretty entertaining. I don't think I'd see it again though.

For all of you out there that haven't seen it yet, they're running a promo through 12/23 for $10 off all tickets by using the promo code "NOW".

For Boston area college students out there, Shear Madness also does the Student Rush Tickets which are: $20 per ticket at the box office. (one ticket per college ID, available 1 hour prior to showtime, subject to availability)

Discover for yourself why over 8 million people around the world have seen Shear Madness, America's favorite comedy. Set in a hairstyling salon that is the scene of a wacky murder, Shear Madness is the uproarious whodunit where the audience gets to solve the crime.

Click (here) to go to the official website and get more info and to purchase tickets.

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La Boheme Tickets for Half Price

Any "young professionals" out there that are into opera? Or maybe you have a date that you want to impress. This is the event for you. The Bravo Boheme event has half-price tickets for the Saturday November 10th showing of Puccini's La Boheme at the Shubert Theatre.

There's also an afterparty immediatly afterwards with the cast of the show at blu Restaurant and Bar @ The Sports Club LA. It should be a blast.

Click (here) for the link to half-price tickets and also tickets to the afterparty.

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Cold Stone Creamery Ice Cream for $2

I found this advertisement in the Globe. Every weekend in October (Saturday and Sunday before 5pm), Cold Stone Creamery is offering $2 Signature Creations at participating locations. Of most importance to me would be the ones in the Theatre District and the Prudential Center.

I've been craving their cheesecake ice cream with a brownie mixed if the last couple of months. But I can't bring myself to go because I'm trying to lose weight. Traveling for work has been taking a toll on my body. Not only can I not work out, but I usually end up eating massive amounts of food at client dinners. Aghgh.

Anyway, for those of you that don't have a weight problem. Go grab some ice cream today or tomorrow from Cold Stone. No coupon necessary according to the ad. I scanned it, see below.

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Ringling Brothers Discount

The Greatest Show on Earth is coming back to Boston for their tour from October 5th through October 14th. and I'm going to get you guys a discount.

It has to have been 20 years since I've been to the circus. I remember going as a small child, my parents got me a set of binoculars and some sort of lightsaber-type toy. It was great, except the animals smelled. =)

So take your kids, they'll remember it for years to come. Here comes the discount. Getty is teaming up with Ticketmaster to provide a $5 coupon code for non-VIP seats to the Show from October 5-11th.

Click (here) for the secret link to the Getty promotion and don't forget to use the promo code "GETTY" when you're checking out. Oh, and click (here) to go to the official Ringling Bros and Barnum & Bailey website for more information.

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McCormick and Schmicks Coupon

Besides target shooting, eating is definitely one of my other favorite hobbies - if you can call eating a hobby. I love to try new restaurants but at the same time, eating out all the time is hard on the finances (and hard on the weight loss plan). Here's a temporary reprieve for your wallet, brought to you by McCormick and Schmicks.

Click (here) for a link to a promotion that is running where you'll get a $25 gift certificate for making a reservation online prior to 8/24 for a dinner to be eaten prior to 9/25. Sounds like a great deal to me. See below for the 2 McCormick and Schmicks locations in the Boston area. One in the Theater District, and one in Fanuil Hall.

34 Columbus Ave.
Boston, Massachusetts 02116
(617) 482-3999

North Market Building, Faneuil Hall Marketplace
Boston, Massachusetts 02109
Restaurant: (617) 720-5522


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Kate Spade F&F Sale

The Kate Spade Friends and Family sale starts today and runs until July 28th. The Boston store is located at 117 Newbury Street.

Click (here) for a link to the coupon and promo code. Print it out if you're going to goto the store or use code: SUMMER07 for an additional 20% off sale items.

Girls, go out and get that bag you've been wanting. Guys, go out and buy that bag that your girl has been wanting. She'll appreciate it. Your wallet will too.

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BOGO Jamba Juice

There's nothing better than a cold refreshing drink on a hot summer day. Actually I take that back. I suppose two cold refreshing drinks for the price of one, would be better. That's exactly what's going on at Jamba Juice right now if you have (this) coupon. Limit one per customer per visit. So that means from now until July 4th when the offer expires, I should print out 14 copies of this coupon. All I need now is a smoothie buddy.

There's only 1 Jamba Juice that I know of in the vicinity. If you know of others, please let me know and I will post those addresses as well.

Jamba Juice
Boston University / Boston
775 Commonwealth Ave.
BOSTON MA 02215

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Testdrive A Vespa & Watch Transformers for Free

Test drive a Vespa at a participating dealer during the Vespa National Open House June 14-24 and walk out with a free movie ticket to this summer's highly anticipated film - Transformers. Simply verify your email online, print the confirmation email and coupon, then go to a participating dealer during the open house dates to test drive a Vespa and receive your free Transformers movie ticket.

For those of you in Boston, here is the address of the closest participating Vespa Dealer in the area.

Vespa Boston
22 Brighton Ave
Boston, MA 02134

Who doesn't like free stuff? Certainly not me. And having grown up on the Transformers cartoon, this is too good to pass up.

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