Saving Money in Cleveland

There are scores of things to see and do in Northeast Ohio without ever spending a dime. Explore museums, commune with nature at the beach or the park, or re-live Cleveland's past at historic sites like Lake View Cemetery. Follow these likes for some ideas:

• Free Things to Do in Cleveland
• More Free Things to Do in Cleveland
• Free Things Part III
• Free Things Park IV

Creating a stylish wardrobe doesn't have to be expensive. Cleveland and the surrounding suburbs boast a number of interesting vintage clothing stores for those affordable, one-of-a-kind, fashion finds. There are also several resale stores in Akron.

Follow the above link for sites that offer online coupons for area restaurants, hotels, sightseeing, and attractions. We update the list frequently. If you know of a coupon that About.com would enjoy, please send me an email and I'll add it to the list.

Cleveland food stores also offer a variety of savings programs. Chief among them is Giant Eagle's Advantage Program. With this card, you get special "members-only" discounts and are able to get "double coupons" (at this writing, manufacturer's coupons of 99 cents or less are credited at twice the face value). Giant Eagle also gives cardholders 10 cents off on gas at their "Get-Go" stations for every $50 spent at the grocery store. (Note: Get-Go tends to be about 10 cents higher than other area stations, so let the "fuel perks" accumulate.)

Aldi's is an area no-frill grocery that attracts a loyal following. They don't take credit cards or coupons and you have to pack your own groceries.

Similar to Aldi's are the Sav-a-Lot stores.

Keep your dining-out costs to a minimum by taking advantage of Cleveland area restaurants that have "kids eat free" or at least under $1 offers. There are more of them than you would have imagined. See our list for a location near you.

Most of the area's chain drug stores offer customer appreciation programs. At Walgreen's, a monthly rebate and coupon book are available stores that includes some items that are completely free after the rebate. In addition, they have weekly "register rebates" on certain items. These are slips that print out at the register that you can use on your next trip.

CVS has a program called Extra Care that gives customers cash back on every purchase as well as extra promotions and coupons. You sign up here and get a card that you present every time you check out.

Rite Aid rewards customers via its "single check rebate" program. Each week and month, there are designated items that qualify for money back. You log your receipts on their Web site.

The Cleveland Public Library system, founded in 1869, includes the main downtown library as well as 28 branches scattered throughout the city. The library also participates in a network with other regional libraries to make those libraries' collections available to Cleveland Public Library cardholders. Here you can find an array of DVDs, CDs, and audio-books as well as traditional library books. Order what you want online and they'll deliver your selections to the branch nearest to you.

Cleveland area businesses understand that's its difficult to make ends meet while you're trying to get through school. There are dozens of discounts offered to area students. Here is a partial list.

Ohio merchants offer thousands of discounts to citizens 60 and older via the Golden Buckeye program. In addition, there are scores of area businesses that offer "senior" discounts. For some you only have to be 50.

It seems like there's a garage sale on every Northeast Ohio street each weekend from May through October. Garage sales and the year-round estate sales are a good way to find unique items at a discount. Don't let the bargains get away from you. Find all of the garage sales, estate sales, and flea markets in greater Cleveland with our collection of links.