Who doesn’t love to save money? Especially these days, with the economy being what it is, it’s important to cut costs wherever you can. If your #1 New Year’s resolution is to follow a stricter budget come January 1st, look no further – here you will find the best Internet resources to help you save money on products of all shapes and sizes.
This site and its forums are your ultimate savings destination. Here you can procure free sample products, enter giveaways, find obscure coupons, and everything in between. Because of its large interactive section, it’s easy for people to share deals they’ve discovered and evaluate others. It’s also a great place to seek advice about applying for credit cards, investing, and saving money. And because members can critique each other’s schemes, you won’t be stuck thinking it’s a good idea to buy up a bunch of gas cards before the price per gallon skyrockets again. (Protip: Gas cards are sold in dollar amounts, not gallons!)
While browsing FatWallet, bear in mind that you shouldn’t attempt to go out for deals that were not intended for you. Scroll down to “Caveat Emptor” for more on this issue.
If you have grown weary of ink stains on your fingers from clipping newspaper coupons, you’re in luck: Coupons.com compiles great coupons from all over the country and allows you to print them right from your computer. You can even enter your zip code for coupons tailored specifically to your area. You can browse available coupons by category or by brand. To “clip” coupons, you must register on the site and install a simple program called a Coupon Printer.
Similar to Coupons.com, but with a different selection, CoolSavings also offers money-saving tips and tricks. Check both sites on a regular basis to make sure you’re not missing any good deals.
Shopping online is the best – not only does it give you access to products you couldn’t otherwise buy, but it also allows you to find the best deals without driving around town. Or even getting up out of your chair. The biggest problem with online shopping? Well, shipping, of course. At many websites you will pay dearly for the privledge of having items delivered to your home. One way to avoid this is FreeShipping.org, which has compiled free shipping coupon codes and links for over 850 online stores. Although many of them have a minimum purchase or other qualifications, they’re all legit – and, even better, they’re all in one place. So once you’ve figured out who carries the item you want, head over to FreeShipping and see who can ultimately give you the best deal.
It’s like FreeShipping.org, but for everything. RetailMeNot has a cornucopia of coupon codes offering everything from 10% off to free items with a purchase. Browse for your favorite websites, and save money.
While it also provides coupons, The Bargainist’s unique offering is the latest news of sales and special promotions on all sorts of websites. With the millions of websites out there offering products and services, it’s impossible to keep track of who’s offering a good sale on something that might interest you. The Bargainist makes it easy, with information on everything froms DVDs to clothes to dating sites.
Many retailers that offer membership cards are offering an even more convenient way to “clip coupons” online. Rather than dealing with paper, you can download coupons directly to you membership account and access the savings at the store when your card is scanned. If you regularly shop at stores like QFC, Hilander, Kroger, and Smith’s, you can use CellFire to download these coupons directly to your savings card. Alternately, you can save coupons from participating retailers right to your mobile phone, then show the phone to the cashier to get your deal.
SlickDeals
It’s been around since 1999, and it’s still a leader in coupon codes from sites that you won’t necessarily find on RetailMeNot and other sites of that ilk. They also feature forums and news on subjects of interest to consumers on their SlickBlog. (For example: recently, a major rebate processor filed for bankruptcy, which may leave millions of customers without the rebate they were entitled to. SlickBlog provides information to help figure out if you will be affected.)
Caveat Emptor:
While the internet can be a great resource for saving lots of money, it should be used with caution.
Because of forums that encourage open communcation between members, sites like Fatwallet are often able to make certain deals more public than they were intended to be. Many companies will set up sales and giveaways that are intended for a select few people, but it only takes one of those to spread the word before thousands of people are trying to claim it. If you participate in a deal that you know you’re not really qualified for, not only will you probably fail to cash in, you’ll become part of the problem.
Last year, Victoria’s Secret ran a promotion for its credit card holders that included a series of very desirable coupon codes (free scarf, gloves, bag, and lip gloss with a small purchase) that could be used together. Some enterprising fellow discovered that he could place an order on a non-VS card, and then the trouble started. Many customers’ orders were canceled, including some who legitimately had access to the codes but chose not to pay for that particular order with their VS card.
The end result of situations like that is undesirable for everyone: fewer coupons and codes, fewer sales, and fewer special promotions.
Also, be aware that not all stores accept every type of online coupon. Wegman’s, a large grocery store chain on the East Coast, refuses all home-printed manufacturer’s coupons that entitle the bearer to a free item. The proliferation of forged online coupons forced their hand: it’s absurdly simple for someone with a working knowledge of Photoshop to alter or create a coupon that seems viable until the retailer attempts to cash it in.
Even if you exclusively use reputable sites such as Coupons.com, no store is obligated to accept the coupons. Keep this in mind before you head out shopping.
Also remember that sometimes, the price difference between a brand-name product and its generic cousin is such that even a coupon might not make it worthwhile to purchase the more expensive version. Before you print off pages of coupons, price-check your local store to make sure you’re really saving money. But in cases where you prefer the brand-name product, coupons are a lifesaver – or, at least, a wallet-saver.
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