(updated 7/7/26)
In the past, I subscribed to several “Deal-a-Day” sites and have purchased a few deals over the years. I sometimes found coupons for discounts off purchases at stores I regularly shopped at, like Office Max and The Body Shop. However, you must always examine whether these offers are such a good deal.
For example, I purchased a magazine subscription that said it was more than 80% off. Then when I looked the magazine up on Amazon, I realized I was saving only $6, not the $48 advertised on the deal site. So here are some tips to follow before making a purchase on one of these sites:
1) Don’t let these emails clutter your Inbox. These sites send a lot of emails! See my post on “Managing the mass of emails in my inbox” to organize your emails more efficiently.
2) Check the price of the item or service on other reputable sites before making a purchase. Make sure the savings are really there! I have found the best deals when looking for deals on excursions. Again, check the prices on the outing’s website before purchasing on the deal site. Also, see if there are any restrictions on how many people are included in the deal and if you can buy multiple deals from the same vendor. We have had success with this in the past.
3) Make these purchases useful instead of just a splurge on something you might not have bought otherwise. Think about saving these deals to give as a gift cards or to purchase as a gift for later. See my post on “Happy Birthday to you, and you, and you.”
4) Ask yourself “Do I really need this item, service, or gift certificate or am I just buying it because I am getting a good discount?” Ultimately if you are spending money you wouldn’t have spent otherwise or going over your budget, it is not a good deal, NO MATTER WHAT THE SAVINGS!
5) Check the expiration date on the deal to make sure you will be able to use it before it expires. I didn’t use a photography deal I purchased in time and lost the money I had spent on it!
6) Does the site offer products you like and can afford or is the service a reasonable enough price that you would buy it anyway? If you get a deal on a website that sells clothes that are too pricey for your budget, even the savings from the deal might not make it worth it!
Here are two deal sites you might consider:
Please feel free to comment on any great deals you have found through these sites!
Surviving on a tight budget 
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