Get a Great Deal on Anything

Tracy's Guide to the Best Bargains:

CODES
You're paying for something online - a shirt, suit, or scarf and notice a place to key in a code for a discount. But what are tehse secret codes, and where can you find them? They are at retailmenot.com, and it takes almost no time or effort to search - alphabetically or by category or store (there are over 15,000 stores listed). The site offers codes for home products, sporting goods, luggage, food and more. Deals have been found to get $10 off a $100 order at homedepot.com, 15% off a purchase at a sporting good store at modells.com, and $20 off a two-night stay booked through hotels.com. Before you pay for an item you want on a site, check retailmenot.com first to see if theres a code. The discount codes work for online sales only, but the site has a thriving printable coupons section. Here are some more sites where you can get codes: currentcodes.com keycode.com rather-be-shopping.com and couponcabin.com

REBATES
fatwallet.com you buy and it pays you back - no joke. Drawback, it can take three weeks to get your rebate.

COUPONS
dealcatcher.com is a good resource for coupons, rebates and weekly deals. One printable coupon was for 25% a pair of jeans at the Gap. You can also compare prices here.

COMPAIRSONS
If you're short on time and want to do a quick price comparison, use "shopping bots" like pricegrabber.com or shopping.com or mysimon.com or shopping.yahoo.com or shopzilla.com and remember to sort by price.

Buy the clothes for a different season. In the winter buy summer clothes that are usually marked 75% off. In the summer buy coats and winter clothes at the same discount. The season will come in a few months and you will have twice as many awesome things to wear for 1/2 the price.

CARS
DO your homework kbb.com to research makes and models cars.com is a good one too. SHop late NOvember and December when car lots are less busy. I recommend though buying from an owner as you will pay 25% less at times to buy directly from them.

GAS
FInd inexpensive gas in your area by checking gasbuddy.com, autos.msn.com, gasprice.mapquest.com but don't go out of your way to drive to get cheep gas or you loose the benefit in the commute.

INSURANCE
Insweb.com is a good resource for obtaining quotes - on life, health, auto and other types of insurance for 6,400 agents representing 21 companies. You'll have to scroll through several screens, answering questions (the kind an insurance agent would ask), then you'll receive an e-mail with your quotes.

I have more deals to put down but I will save that for another post as I have to go to Corban and Connors school for a book swap they do every year. Kids bring in 1-5 books they have read and lay them out on a table and can pick up the number of books that they gave to take for summer reading. Great idea for a PTA president to do at their school.

Anyways, I hope in some small way, at least one of these sites I have recommended can save you money.

Your friend,

Tracy:)