NEW YORK (MarketWatch) -- Everyone seems to be cutting back these days, and some big-name companies are doing whatever they can to get your attention. They're running new campaigns, they're making new offers -- all to convince you to spend the precious few dollars you are spending with them.

What good brands do is focus on what you, the customer, want. And what you want now are deals. You're getting them, whether it's from pancake powerhouse IHOP who just ended their "all you can eat pancakes" (which I missed, sadly) to Target.

Here are five current offerings from big brands where you can find savings:

1. Wal-Mart. Wal-Mart is releasing the "Twilight" DVD for $17, which is about the best deal out there if you're into those angst-driven teen vampires. To put itself ahead of competitors Amazon and Borders, Wal-Mart (WMT) is taking special preorders of the DVD and will have it at your doorstep on March 21, price guaranteed. Wal-Mart is also offering the "Twilight" Special Edition DVD for $22.99, which is roughly $10 less compared to stores like Borders.
2. Target. He may never put out another "Purple Rain," but Prince is still cranking out the music. Target (TGT) is making the newest Prince CD package available for just $11.98 for three CDs -- pretty amazing when you consider that a single new CD usually runs about $15. Another possible plus: The third disc is a bonus CD featuring Prince's new talent, Bria Valente.
3. Wendy's/Arby's Group. Arby's is offering a free roast burger to promote its new sandwich, but you need to join Arby's Extras mailing list to get it. Once you join, they'll send an email with your coupon for your burger. Wendy's is doing all it can to compete during the slowdown and has reworked its 99-cent value menu to provide, well, more value.
4. Starbucks. Is $3.95 a bargain for a meal? Starbucks thinks so and is offering a "breakfast pairing" of a tall coffee coupled with a breakfast sandwich, at any time of day. Starbucks is also in the midst of rolling out its new Via instant coffee but it's getting a run for its money from Green Mountain's (GMCR) one-cup Keurig brewers. In fact, I got one from my Mom -- one of the 711,000 units moved over the holidays, or double the previous year -- and my husband is addicted to it.
5. Hewlett Packard. A lot of manufacturers need to move inventory, including HP (HPQ). The company is now offering its HP Officejet J3680 (printer, fax, scanner, copier) for just $49.99 after rebates (just be sure to use that rebate!). Plus, they're offering free standard shipping.

The other "bargain" angle to these brand-name companies is that they often represent good investment opportunity. Remember, for the $6 you'd pay for a meal or $12 for a CD, you can, in some cases, actually own a share or two of the company! What's a better use of your money? You be the judge.

Jennifer Openshaw, author of " The Millionaire Zone ," is co-founder and president of WeSeed , whose mission is to enable people to discover the stock market in their everyday lives through their passions, their jobs and the brands they know and love. You can find her on Twitter @jopenshaw or on Facebook.