Winner's Circle

October 2009

How Do You Find Deals, Discounts, and Savings?

The Winning Entry

	"Sometimes the best way to get a discount is simply to ask "Do you give any discounts?" I asked this question at a car repair service last week and found they give a discount to students, faculty, and staff at the college where I work. SCORE! I received $20 off a $325 repair. And as they say, "It never hurts to ask!"" Darcie C., Nevada, MO

Other Favorites

Notable Mention

"One of the first steps in becoming a frugal family is learning to save money and create a budget. Making sure you have more left over at the end of the month than you spend is crucial. Here is a great resource whether you've been budgeting for years or you're planning your family's finances for the first time. I use MOMMYSAVERS.COM. It's a one stop shop for coupons, money saving codes, free stuff, and you can check out all the major store sale codes for online or in-store shopping."

Carol C., Las Vegas, NV

"My strategy for finding discounts and savings is to do my research before I purchase anything. First I locate the item I'd like to purchase. Then I look on a few websites that highlight all of the deals and discounts like Deal New (www.dealnews.com) or the Bargainist (www.bargainist.com) to see if there is something comparable or even better at a lower price. Additionally, I search for online coupon codes when purchasing anything online. It makes a big difference and makes me feel like I've really done my homework before spending."

Kathi H., Alexandria, VA

"My friends and family always joke about how I have a coupon for everything and how I'm always getting free samples! I have signed up for electronic coupons at several websites such as shortcuts.com and cellfire.com that I use when grocery shopping. I also receive a lot of free samples by visiting freestuff4free.com and signing up for the FREE offers that they have. I have received a lot of cereal and beauty products that are great! I also am a huge coupon-cutter and I decide on my shopping list based on the sales ads and what coupons I have that greatly reduces the cost of my grocery bill. I love searching for great deals and coupons. It's a fun process and the savings are great. It has really helped me cut costs while trying to lower my debt."

Lauren K., Christiansburg, VA

"I belong to Freecycle.org and watch for stuff I need. It is amazing how many people get rid of just what I need (or want). There are some beautiful things given away and I admit I am doing some of my Christmas "shopping" on Freecycle. I also check out the free section of Craigslist on a regular basis. Most of the furniture in my house came from one of those two places along with so many other things I've gotten like candles, books, rugs bikes/scooters for my kids, movies, toys, school supplies, clothes, and more. It's amazing!"

Cheryl L., Olney, MD

"I definitely find most of my savings online--Amazon and Craigslist. I also find that linking up to a store's Twitter feed is a great way to know about special promotions because they often have Twitter ONLY specials. Craigslist.com is great site for finding deals. I've become quite the bargain shopper finding used furniture and items on this site. Last month I found a futon for my living room for $100 that was only 6 months old. Last week I found a desk for my office that was 1 year old and cost me $25."

Ashley L., Brookline, MA

"I use Google to search for coupons and codes. Whenever I know I need to make a purchase, whether it be clothing household needs or even something larger, I make sure to Google the item and most of the time I can find a store having a sale or a code that saves me money if I purchase it online."

Eva K., Brooklyn, NY

"This has got to be my favorite question that has been asked so far! In my house I am called the Coupon Queen. Every coupon I receive, either by mail, newspaper, or online, I take full advantage of. I collect and go through my coupons on a weekly basis. It's amazing sometimes to see how many I can actually use! I have used two coupons this week already for Dunkin Donuts. I had two 99 cent coupons and saved 1.00 on two coffees by using those coupons. All expenses add up eventually because of my "worry wort syndrome" but being conscientious about what I spend has made a difference. Just by knowing what's out there and what businesses promote special savings makes my life easier and the leash around my budget a little looser. It also makes me smile more often."

Amy S., Sarasota, FL

"Ask! We lowered our cable and phone bills by $150 a month just by asking these companies if they could give us a better rate. Our promotional deals had expired and we were having difficulty with the payments. After explaining this to the customer service representatives, they offered us the same promotional rate for another 6 months. We get to keep our phones and cable and saved $900. We found that these companies would rather keep a customer with a lower rate than lose them to a competitor."

Kristan B., Flower Mound, TX

"I created the "Lunch Bunch" at work. We meet weekly over the lunch hour and exchange coupons while eating a brown-bag lunch. It gives us a great opportunity to get together, swap coupons and exchange shopping stories. In addition to saving money that probably would have gone to eating out, we've learned a lot about each other and have strengthened our work relationships. We have even discovered ways to save money at work. As a bonus our company now provides lunch once a month as reward for being thrifty!"

Penny P., Toledo, OH

"I accidentally found out that my work offers tons of discounts through our employee benefit program. Ask around at your workplace and check with HR. You will be surprised to find out where you can save money! For example; many places of employment offer a cell phone service discount through their employee benefit program."

Paula S., Bend, OR

"As a semi-recent college grad my credit cards and student loans are killing me financially. Luckily, I have found one way of spending and saving at the same time when it comes to that dreaded student loan. Many online retailers, brick and mortar restaurants, and other kinds of places participate in something called Upromise. I just register my debit card and every time I use it at a participating place, I get money back towards my student loans. Some of them are pretty hefty savings too! Verizon offers 18% which can add up pretty quickly. Now, I cringe slightly less when I make a purchase."

Leigh Anne T., Oxford, GA

"I joined a farmer's co-op to get fresh produce. This costs me only $10 a week and I get very good fresh food. Fingerling potatoes, fresh carrots, corn, beans, and fresh greens are but a few of the items I receive each week. If I bought these same items at the store I would spend at least 4 times what this fresher and tastier food costs me and I feel good about supporting the local farmers."

Carrie F., Danville, KY

"This web site. I have read a lot of the features you have posted and follow a lot of the tips you have provided. Because of this web site, I know where to go to get coupons on-line. I read the forum threads and get lots of pointers from the people in the program. What I like about it is that everyone is in the same position that we are in. So, Share the Wealth and being part of the CareOne Community has helped me in more ways than one!"

Desiree J., Monrovia, IN