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Growing up some of my best family memories took place at Snowbird ski resort in Utah. We went there annually with my mom's side of the family and it was always a good time. As a child I did not know or understand that this great yearly opportunity was due to a time share. Now I have learned the beauty of a time share!

What is it?

Do you know what a time share is? According to Wikipedia :

"A timeshare is a form of ownership or right to the use of a property, or the term used to describe such properties. These properties are typically resort condominium units, in which multiple parties hold rights to use the property, and each sharer is allotted a period of time (typically one week, and almost always the same time every year) in which they may use the property."

My families timeshare was a week we had annually where we "owned" a certain unit for that week each year. There are many benefits of Timeshares, not the least of which is that is saves MONEY!! Generally timeshares are about 50% less than hotel rooms (especially when rented from the owner). They are also usually spacious and include kitchen space so you can save food money by cooking at you place of lodging.

Now, if you are like me and cannot afford to buy into a timeshare right now, you might want to look into timeshare rentals. What is that you ask? Well, sometimes an owner cannot use their week for one reason or another and they rent it out to someone else.

As I mentioned I loved our Snowbird timeshare, so I was intrigued by the idea of timeshare rentals, but I did not know where or how to find available timeshare rentals until I was asked to do this review/giveaway!

Redweek.com is a website that lists available timeshare rentals (and actually resales if you are ready to buy into a timeshare). Here is a fun fact: the "red week" in a time share is the prime week to own (like having a ski resort timeshare in the peak of ski season). It means it is "the best" and this company chose the name "Redweek" because they are striving to be the best! And I think the are doing well!!

For the purposes of this review, I was given free access to their member site for one year. I have already made use of it to research and start to plan a secret trip we may take for my birthday! Read on for more info and for a GIVEAWAY!!

What did I think of it?

Well, when I first logged on I noticed that right in the middle of the home page is “Top Timeshare Rental Destinations”. Looking through that you can easily see how inexpensive timeshare rentals can be. I was convinced of the price saving options right off and I began to search.

My husband took my birthday week in September off and told me he would like to see if we could swing it to FINALLY take our kids to Disney. We are flexible as to whether we will go to Orlando or Anaheim (probably Anaheim as we might be able to convince our families to come if we go there). So, I began searching for timeshare rentals in those 2 locations on that week. I also looked up hotels for that week.

Keep in mind we are a family of 7 so technically we would need 2 hotel rooms or a suite. Also keep in mind that these timeshare rentals are generally nice resorts and I was looking for something affordable AND nice (I do not want to stay in a cheap hot mess with my kids like I did on my honeymoon). A 2.5 star hotel was going to run me about $180 per night for our family size. I can get a luxury hotel with DVD Player, Dishwasher, Internet Access, Laundry - Dryer, Laundry - Washer, Microwave, Refrigerator - Full Size, Stereo, TV, Telephone, FREE parking, Children's pool, exercise room, spa, etc. for $175 per night. That SAVES me $5 a night AND gives me many more amenities and the ability to cook in room and save money! Not to mention it puts my family in 1 room that is spacious as opposed to 2 cramped hotel rooms.

I may not need to explicitly state this, but let me say that I am super excited to have access to this site and to find timeshare rentals for our upcoming vacation(s).

So what can you win?

RedWeek is allowing me to giveaway a FREE two-Year RedWeek membership!!! That is SWEET!

Here is how to enter the Giveaway (PLEASE make sure to leave an email address in each comment so I can reach you should you win):
What can you win: One lucky Beckee's Deals reader will win a FREE two-Year RedWeek membership
MANDATORY ENTRIES (Each of these count as a separate entry, but you must do BOTH of these entries first for other entries to count):

1-Go to RedWeek.com and come back here and leave a comment about something you learned about timeshares.

2-While on RedWeek.com, search for and find a resort. Come back here and comment with the name of the resort and the cheapest timeshare rental rate for that resort!

Once you have done those, you can get 6 extra entries by doing the following things (Just make sure to leave a separate comment for each entry, and leave me your email address in each comment so I know how to contact you should you win):

1. Become a PUBLIC GFC follower of my blog (If you are already a follower-that counts!).

2. Go Like Redweek on Facebook

3. Follow @redweektravel on Twitter

4. Subscribe to my blog via Email or an RSS feed/reader. (Yes-you can use this entry if you are already an email or RSS subscriber- just let me know how you subscribe to my blog).

5. Become a Facebook fan of my blog here.

6. Follow me on Twitter here.

Be sure to leave a comment for each entry with your email address. The winner will be chosen using Random.org. This giveaway ends on Saturday, August 13th at 11:59 PM Central Time.

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Have I told you recently about ExpoTV? It is a sweet members only website where you can make and post video reviews of products you use. You can earn points with which to get great items. Sometimes they have what they call "Tryology" programs where they will send you a product to try and review (via video). 
Well, if you are not already a member of EXPO, you will want to become one right now and apply for their latest Tryology! It is a tryology for an LG LCD SmartTV – a $1,300 TV (Check it out here)!

Join now because they will be selecting the Tryology participants on August 8th!! As with other Tryology programs, all you have to do is become a member and fill out the screener in your profile to apply! Then, on August 8th, stay tuned and if you are selected you’ll receive an invitation from them! Easy Peasy, right?! I really hope I get this one!!

Click here to become a member and then make sure you take the tryology screener!

You may recall that I told you here and here about FREE books I got from Read It Forward.

If you too are interested in reading advanced copies of new books, I would recommend checking out the Read It Forward website. Right now they have this book (Samantha Soto's Before Ever After) available:

Go here and sign up for your chance to get one! Maybe you will get lucky!

Here are my favorite deals in Omaha grocery this week:
Hyvee

• Bananas $.39/lb
• Canned Hy Vee corn or Green Beans $.29 each
• Large dozen eggs $.99

In addition to their regular week long special, HyVee also has a 4 Days of Savings Sale Wednesday 7/27-Saturday 7/30 that includes the following:

• Rotella Vienna Bread $.99
• 7Up, A&W, SUnkist, Squirt, RC, Dr Pepper or Diet Rite products 12 packs 3/$8.88 (which is $2.98 each)

AND In addition to their regular week long special, HyVee also has a 2 Day Sale Friday 7/29-Saturday 7/30 that includes the following:

• Fairacres Ice Cream (vanilla, cookies and Cram or Neopolitan 1.75 Quart size) $.99
• Hy Vee Cottage Cheese 24 Oz $.99 (limit 2)
• Fresh Chicken Leg Quarters $.39/lb (sold in 10 lb pkg for $3.90
• Pineapple (Fresh) $1.99 each

No Frills Fresh

• Kelogg's or Keebler participating products $.98 (with in ad coupon and purchase of 10. $1.48 otherwaise-I will try to get a list of the participating items)
• Roberts Butter $2.48 16 oz
• Knorr Rice and Pasta sides $.77
• Our Family 24 pack Spring Water $2.48
• This last item is ONLY at the Baker's Square location (132nd and Center): 93% lean ground bwwf $1.99/lb (ANY size package!!!)

Bag N Save

• Our Family Cheese 8 oz shredded or chunk 3/$3 (with in ad SUPER COUPON-limit 1 coupon per customer)
• Hunt's Snack Packs (4 pack) $.49 (with qualifying purchase and in ad coupon-$.79 without)
• Van Camp's Posr and Beans $.25  (with qualifying purchase and in ad coupon-$.55 without)
• Boneless Pork Sirloin Chops or Roast $1.99
• Strawberries 16 oz 2/$3
• Roma Tomatos $.99/lb
• Jennie-O Turkey Hot Dogs 12 oz 10/$10

Baker's (Remember their sales are almost always WITH card)

• Bakers Milk $2.99 gallon

Aldi

• Broccoli $.88/lb
• Cauliflower $.99/lb
• Cherries 1 lb clamshell $1.29
• Strawberries 16 oz clamshell $.88

Super Saver

• Whole Seedless Watermelon $2.98
• Frozen Boneless Skinless Chicken $1.57/lb
• Pepsi Product 24 packs $5.98

In addition to their regular week long special, Super Saver also has a Weekend Sale Friday 7/29-Sunday 7/31 that includes the following:

• Roma Tomatoes $.58/lb
• Russet potatoes 3 lb $.98
• Johnsonville Smoked Brats 13.5-14 oz
• Pringles 4.9-4.93 oz Original or SOur Cream $.88
• Pepsi 2 L 4/$3

Fareway

• Dole head of lettuce $.77
• Mission Tortilla Chips $1.99 for 13 oz bag
• Fareway American Singles $.99 (with in ad coupon-limit 1)
• Dozen Medium eggs $.79
• Red Ripe Tomatoes $.99/lb
• Red or Black Plums $.99/lb
• Peaches $.88/lb
• Fresh Green Beans $.99/lb
• Spring Hill Smoked Bacon $1.99 (16 oz package)

***Remember that I generally just price match at Walmart as much as I can rather than go to all the stores separately! I LOVE being able to do that. You can also pricematch at Target, but I find it easier to pricematch at Walmart.

I am 20 minutes late for a playgroup and it is my son's birthday so he cannot wait to get there, but I wanted to post a couple reminders of some kids meal deals going on. I took both of the following pictures myself this week:


In case you cannot view-they are to let you know that Fazoli's (in Omaha at least-call your local store to make sure they participate) has kids night on Tuesdays (read tonight) from 5-8pm. That means with each adult meal, 2 kids can eat kids meals for $.99 each.

The second picture is a reminder that IHOP (in Omaha-again, check your local store) has Kids Eat Free every day from 4-10 pm. Theirs is one kid eats free for each adult meal purchased!

Did you know Denny's has a Tour of America promotion going on right now where they are celebrating each and every state? Well, I got an email today to let me know that the State of the day today is...(drum roll)...NEBRASKA (and South Dakota)!! Readers in South Dakota and locally in Nebraska can go here to print out a coupon for BOGO (you buy 1 Tour of America entree and 2 drinks and you get one Tour of America Entree free). The coupon expires on 7/31. 
The map above shows what states have been, are and will be the State of the day. But you can always check out Denny's to see when your state's day is/was.

Tonight at 11:59 pm central time 2 of my GREAT giveaways end: My Seventh Generation Free & Clear Diapers giveaway, and my & Purex with Zout giveaway (with 2 winners). Both have low entries (Diapers have 35, Detergent has 70). Today is your last chance to enter, so get on it!!! :)

While you are here check out my other open giveaways:

• Seneca Farms Oatmeal & Fruit Giveaway ends 7/29
• CiCi's Pizza Family Funtacular summer scratch tickets ends 8/1.

My original UPrinting winner had already won the same giveaway the other day on another blgo so I had to pick another winner.

I used Random.org to generate the (new) winner in the UPrinting 250 Nightclub flyers giveaway. I had 20 entries and Random.org chose entry #13.
13. lewalk said...

Email subscriber.

I have emailed Leah and she has 48 hours to get back to me (If you are the winner and did not get my email, please check your spam folder or email me at beckeesdeals AT gmail DOT com)!

I used Random.org to generate the winner in the UPrinting 250 Nightclub flyers giveaway. I had 20 entries and Random.org chose entry #4.

The winner was:

4. Kim C. said...

I subscribe to your email


I have emailed Kim and she has 48 hours to get back to me (If you are the winner and did not get my email, please check your spam folder or email me at beckeesdeals AT gmail DOT com)!

This is an interesting freebie, David C Cook Christian Publishers is offering a FREE book by author Francis Chan. You can choose any of the following books: Crazy Love, Forgotten God, The Big Red Tractor, Halfway Herbert, or Ronnie Wilson’s Gift. All you have to do to get the offer is click here, and fill out the form. I knew nothing about the books so I looked them up on Amazon and ended up requesting Halfway Herbert for the kiddos!

Thanks Real Life Deals.