Keep the Change - Saving Daily

Photo from Microsoft

The following is the latest enhanced article of my "Keep the Change" column for a local publication.

Daily Deals. How does one make the most of these flash sales (typically lasting from a day to a week) without losing your head or your budget?

There are many types of daily deal sites on the web, offering discounts on services, goods and even travel packages. The most widely known of these sites, Groupon and LivingSocial, offer all of the above –tailored to your interests and local area. You’ll also want to check out newsokdeals.com, specifically for Oklahoma City vendors. My favorite site for goods is Woot and its family of sites (for technology, toys, décor and more). NewEgg is another well-established site for technology hounds. For moms, there are a plethora of options - Zulily offers apparel (for children and their parents), nursery décor, home organization and more; PlumDistrict is much like Groupon, offering both services and goods, specifically geared toward Moms. For educators (both at home and in schools), a new site on the market is Educents, offering curriculum, media and educational toys.

When shopping daily deals, be sure to stay cool. The success of flash sales depends on the urgency of impulse shopping – we know the deal won’t last long, so we rush to grab it. It’s important to take a step back and think – Do you really need this item/service? Were you going to make this purchase soon, even if the deal hadn’t popped up? Do you have room in the budget? Remember – a bargain is only a bargain if it’s something you need or will use. Otherwise, even a deeply discounted gadget is still just money out the door.

Finally, do your research. When you see a great deal on a site, shop around (check amazon.com or do a google search) to see if the price they’re presenting is really a great deal. In addition, when trying out a new deals site, do a quick search to determine its reputation. Have other consumers had a good experience with this site? Know who you are doing business with!

With wisdom and care, you will be able to navigate daily deals site and get more bang for your buck!

Leave your comments - are there are any of your favorite sites I left out?